222 



STATISTICS OF SALMON SUPPLY. 



[CHAP. v. 



tity of salmon (i.e. the number of boxes weighing one hundred 

 and twelve pounds each) sent to London from 1850 to the 

 end of the open fisheries of 1865 : 



One of the least understood, although one of the most 

 hotly-contested parts of the salmon question, is the relation 

 between the upper and lower proprietors. A great salmon 

 river may pass through the estates or mark the property 

 boundaries of a large number of gentlemen ; and some portions 

 of this river are sure to be much more valuable than others. 

 As has been already stated, some of the proprietors on the 

 river Tay derive a large revenue from their fisheries ; while 

 others only obtain a little angling, although they very likely 

 furnish the breeding-ground for a few thousands of the fish 

 which aid in producing the large rentals lower down. This 

 part of the salmon question has been so well argued by my 

 friend Mr. Donald Bain, that I here reproduce a portion of one 

 of his letters on the subject : 



