CHAPTER V 



THE LADDER 



" Ah ! who can tell how hard it is to climb ? " 



BEATTIE, The Minstrel. 



THE ladder which gives fish access to the river 

 above the great Fos was constructed about 

 thirty years ago by an Irish gentleman, who 

 owned the property of Osen, extending for 

 about two miles upwards from the mouth of 

 the river on the left bank, and made contracts 

 with the other proprietors interested, which 

 gave him the fishing rights for a long term of 

 years. It was probably the most important 

 fish-pass in existence at that period, though it 

 has since been surpassed by the great Vefsen 

 ladder, and possibly by others. It has in every 

 way been most successful. Not only has it 

 created a salmon fishing river ten or twelve 

 miles in length, but by opening up excellent 

 spawning grounds it has vastly improved the 

 race of fish which had previously frequented 

 the water below the great Fos. This process, 



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