116 SALMON FISHING 



occasionally, but could generally reckon on a good 

 year following an indifferent or a poor one. For 

 four years, however, the fishing has gone from bad 

 to worse. Last season's was undoubtedly the least 

 satisfactory I have experienced. I do not think 

 that this is caused by any diminution in the numbers 

 of fish entering the river : during the same period 

 sport on many of the lower reaches of the river has 

 been very good. It seems rather to be owing to the 

 fact that the fish do not proceed to the upper reaches 

 as early or in as large numbers as they used to do. 

 It would be difficult to assign a reason for this ; but 

 I may make a conjecture, and one more expert in 

 the * habits and instincts of fishes ' may be able to 

 say if there is anything in it. 



" For years past hundreds of fish have been taken 

 from the upper reaches and stripped of spawn, which 

 is removed to the hatcheries lower down; the fry 

 are restored to the lower reaches. What I should 

 like to know is whether salmon thus reared would 

 have a tendency on their annual visit to haunt the 

 pools where they spent their days as fry, and not to 

 push on to upper reaches of the river. If this is so, 

 it might account for the scarcity of fish in the upper 

 waters in spring. Last year for the first time, I 

 believe some of the fry were restored to the upper 

 reaches ; but time alone can show whether this is to 

 have any effect. 



"What fish are in the water are much more difficult 

 to take now than formerly. This may be accounted 

 for by the consideration that during their leisurely 





