202 SALMON FISHING 



and, after being joined by the Barrow, falling into 

 the sea at Waterford, is certainly not improving. 

 Captain E. K. B. Tighe, Woodstock, Inistioge, 

 writes : 



"There has been no great diminution in the 

 stock of fish within the limits of the tidal waters ; 

 but the very great falling -off in peal and grilse 

 during the last three years calls for serious atten- 

 tion. It is probably attributable to a lack of any 

 public sense of the importance of the laws against 

 poaching and pollution, and to the impossibility of 

 getting rod and net men to perceive that intelligent 

 co-operation is necessary if the natural advantages 

 of a water which should be one of the best salmon 

 rivers in the kingdom are to be maintained. The 

 efforts of private persons to do good by means of 

 hatcheries are nullified by there being practically no 

 attempt to protect the river or to enforce the laws 

 as to the weekly and the annual close times. The 

 fry which are turned down in the streams, instead 

 of enriching the water and adding to the wealth of 

 the country, serve only to fatten the cormorants, 

 cranes, water-hens, and sea-gulls which infest the 

 river. There being no measures of protection, the 

 continuance of rod -fishing for six weeks after the 

 nets are off enables the poachers to find a market."" 



The SLANEY, in County Dublin, is doing well. 

 Writing in behalf of Mr. R. W. Hall Dare, New- 

 townbarry House, Mr. John Sim states that for 

 three seasons the fishing has been much improved. 

 "On some of the reaches last year was the best 



