ciiAi'. v.J CO-OPERATION BETTER THAN COMPETITION. 223 



" Considering that at present the only chance of having 

 fish in the rivers depends upon the excellence and care of the 

 breeding-grounds at the river-heads, while the river-head pro- 

 prietors, by disturbing the shingle (which should be protected) 

 at the period of depositing and hatching the roe, could destroy 

 all chance, and yet be legally unchallengeable, these river-head 

 proprietors are hardly recognised as proprietors at all, which 

 therefore should be altered. ... I propose that the river, 

 from its highest breeding-ground to its mouth, and so far into 

 the sea as private or public interests can extend, should be 

 made a common property and a common care ; improved where 

 improvable, at the general expense of the whole proprietors 

 along its banks ; fished, not savagely, and as if extermination 

 were a laudable object, but prudently, and with a view to 

 permanent interests ; the fish allowed to go unmolested to the 

 breeding-grounds, at least so far as to secure a full brood, and 

 protected against destruction in returning when unfit for food ; 

 and the expense and the profit to be divided pro rata, accord- 

 ing to the mileage along the banks ; unless, in the judgment 

 of intelligent and equitable men, a degree of preference should 

 be given in the case of grounds of acknowledged excellence 

 for breeding or feeding. 



" It may be said it would be malicious in the proprietors 

 of breeding-grounds to consider it necessary to repair their 

 gravel-walks with shingle from the river at the very time 

 when depositing or hatching the roe was going on ; but could 

 it be prevented ? and would it be more inequitable than an- 

 ticipating every fish worth catching at the mouth of the river 

 or along their course, and allowing the proprietors of the head- 

 waters no share ?" 



In the meantime, it is satisfactory to see that all classes 

 of the community are thoroughly aroused to the danger which 

 menaces our king of fishes. There must of course be a 

 limit to the productiveness of even the most prolific salmon 



