418 FEANCIS TEEVELYAN BUCKLAND. 



In 1867, Mr. Buckland was appointed Inspector 

 of Fisheries. This was the realization of the wish 

 of his life. He says in his diary, after receiving 

 the appointment : " When I read this I felt a most 

 peculiar feeling ; not joy, nor grief, but a pleasur- 

 able, stunning sensation, if there can be such a 

 thing. The first thing I did was to utter a prayer 

 of thanksgiving to Him who really appointed me, 

 and who has thus placed me in a position to look 

 after and care for His wonderful works. May 

 He give me strength to do my duty in my new 

 calling ! 



Buckland carried forward his work with the 

 greatest zeal and energy. He writes in his journal : 

 "I am, now working from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M., 

 then a bit in the evening, fourteen hours a 

 day ; but, thank God, it does not hurt me. I 

 should, however, collapse if it were not for Sun- 

 day. The machinery has time to get cool. The 

 mill-wheel ceases to patter the water, the mill-head 

 is ponded up, and the superfluous water let off 

 by an easy, quiet current, which leads to things 

 above." 



Salmon, which had formerly abounded in Wales 

 and England, and been used extensively for food, 

 had almost or altogether ceased to exist in many 

 rivers. Buckland carefully studied their habits. 

 He put himself, as he often said, in the place of 

 the salmon. He waded the pools, to feel the force 

 and direction of the current against which they 

 come up from the sea into the rivers. He did not 

 spare himself in storm or cold. 



