VALUE OF WELL-CARED-FOR RIVERS 277 



I know of one river which comparatively but a 

 few years ago was neglected and uncared for ; a 

 few salmon succeeded in getting up it from time 

 to time. There was no water-keeper, and the 

 gamekeepers, who were supposed to look after 

 it, knew nothing about fish or fishing, and cared 

 infinitely less. After a time it was let at an almost 

 nominal rent to a gentleman, who agreed to 

 preserve it. At his death, which occurred shortly 

 afterwards, his executors obtained the remainder 

 of the lease. They were both good fishermen, 

 and were able and willing to do all in their power 

 to benefit the property. Fortunately they had 

 the assistance of the agent himself, one of the 

 best salmon fishermen we have, and through 

 whose repeated exertions and representations to 

 the owner of the property the efforts which had 

 been made to improve the fishery wer*e due. In 

 the space of a very few years their trouble was 

 crowned with the most complete success ; and at 

 the expiration of the then existing lease, the water, 

 which had been hitherto rented for a small amount, 

 was, and is still, let for ^600 per annum ; and 

 all this triumph, for I can call it nothing less, 

 was achieved without the owner of the property 

 being called upon to disburse more than a very 

 nominal sum. 



The above serves to show what can be done 

 by the employment of common-sense, energy, and 



