196 SALMON FISHING 



My theory is that most of the late-running fish are 

 worthless except for the crop of peal or grilse they 

 yield, and only breed fish that in their turn run late, 

 coming up heavy in spawn at the close of the open 

 season. I believe that an excessive capture of spring 

 fish may turn an early river into a late one. I con- 

 sider the spring fish the most valuable spawners. 

 For the last four or five years Lord Warwick, Mr. 

 W. G. Jameson, and other tenants of the Careysville 

 fishery have paid ^500 a-year to have the killing 

 hatch in Lismore Weir kept open for February, 

 March, and April. This must have let up a large 

 number of spring fish ; but, in spite of it, we do not 

 get them above Fermoy in any quantity until May. 

 I am quite unable to account for this. Hatcheries 

 have been established. One, at Lismore, has been 

 working some years. It is doubtful whether they 

 have done any good. The Duke of Devonshire is 

 now taking the Lismore Fishery, nets and weir, into 

 his own hands. It used to be let to the Messrs. 

 Foley. I hope the Duke will work it with a view 

 to the general good of the river ; but I cannot tell." 



Mr. George Montgomery, Howell, Tavistock, 

 Devonshire, who owns a goodly upper stretch of the 

 Blackwater, and has known the river for fifty years, 

 thinks that the great increase of sea fishing, the extra 

 length of herring nets, and steam trawlers along the 

 coast must scare many salmon from the estuaries. 



Mr. George Carleton Foott, Carrigacunna Castle, 

 Killavullen, has emphatic opinions. He writes : 



"When we Magistrates have inflicted fines on 



