" CHIEF OF THE WATEKS." 119 



great importance. No one is allowed to fish without 

 his permission. He distributes the fish taken during 

 the season amongst his people ; every one, even the 

 smallest child, getting an equal share, which is not 

 stinted, seeing that the chief informed Mr Kane that 

 in one day he had taken in his basket as many as 1 700 

 salmon, weighing on an average 30 Ib. each, and that 

 the daily average capture was 400. 



Our Chief of the Waters, when we get him, would 

 not, it is true, be so paternal in his distribution of the 

 good things pertaining to his domain, yet a most use- 

 ful public functionary would he be, were he to exercise 

 a little salutary despotism over our fisheries. One part 

 of his duty might be to order the removal of all ob- 

 structions to the salmon reaching the spawning-beds ; 

 or, at least, the providing them with facilities for doing 

 so by means of "ladders," up which, it is proved, sal- 

 mon will ascend as regularly as domestic fowls clamber 

 to their roost. The cost of this useful invention is 

 trifling. An ascent of the unusual height of fifteen 

 feet cut through the rock, moreover, can be provided 

 for ^60. As there is no loss of water-power, it is most 

 reasonable that every weir or obstruction of any kind 

 should be demolished, if the proprietor will not provide 

 a ladder for salmon. The Commissioners are so con- 

 siderate as to propose that he shall do so at his own 

 expense only if his weir be of recent erection. They 

 are willing that this appliance shall be furnished to 

 ancient weirs at the cost of the local fishing-boards. 

 As the introduction of ladders into the rivers of Ireland 

 has been effected easily, and with the greatest advan- 

 tage, we hope proprietors of Scottish salmon rivers will 

 not wait for the compulsitor of an Act of Parliament, 

 but will at once introduce this ingenious contrivance of 

 the late Mr Smith of Deanston. 



Perhaps the most important recommendation of the 

 Commissioners relates to the fixing of a uniform close- 

 time. At present this may not exceed 150 days ; but 



