160 SALMON FISHING 



draining and do no earthly good to any one, just 

 because some idiot thought he was wiser than the 

 Creator, and said that a man was a benefactor to 

 mankind who made two blades of corn grow where 

 one grew before, ignoring the fact that the soil 

 might not be suitable for corn, and that the expense 

 of cultivation would take away any profit. One 

 thing, I think, might be done to benefit the rod- 

 fishing by legislation, and that is to do away with 

 all net-fishing in rivers. Compensation might be 

 given to net -fishing riparian proprietors by the 

 assessing of the rod-fishings, which would thereby 

 benefit. I don't know how this would affect me 

 personally if it were done, as I own most of the rod- 

 fishing on the Cree and all of the Minnock, except 

 at its source, and, I should think, most of the net- 

 fishing near the sea ; but it would be equitable, as 

 a riparian proprietor near the sea, especially when 

 there are no spates and where the river is not 

 wide, can every tide get hold of all the fish that 

 wish to run up, but have to return to the sea for 

 want of water. The tide in the Cree runs up some 

 four or five miles, and in some places the river is 

 very narrow. There is one thing that Mr. Drew 

 has not mentioned, and it is a very important one. 

 Most of the poaching is high up in the waters, where 

 the fish run to spawn. It is there that watching 

 is principally required. Poaching is easy work with 

 a gaff." 



Lord Galloway notes, in a postscript, an in- 

 structive fact. "Lord Stair or his son, Lord 



