238 SALMON FISHING 



ticket, without which no one will be able to fish in 

 private water. In this manner we shall be in a 

 position to keep undesirables off the river. I need 

 hardly say anything to you about the unsatisfactory 

 ways of Parliament as far as fishing is concerned. 

 We have to thank one of the Scots members 

 Mr. Caldwell, I think for blocking the Bill pro- 

 moted by the Lune Board of Conservators. If this 

 Bill had been allowed to go on, there would be 

 but little need for Fishery Boards to pray for new 

 legislation." 



The DEE shows vitality. At present, I am told by 

 Mr. John Simpson, Chester, superintendent in behalf 

 of the Fishery Board, the river does not seem to 

 have quite so many salmon as it had before 1896. 

 Fish were fairly plentiful for some years up to 

 that time. Then a cycle of bad seasons began. The 

 river seemed to deteriorate in its productiveness 

 until 1902. The season of 1903, however, opened 

 with a splendid run of fish, and since then the river 

 has continued to improve. Mr. Simpson mentions 

 that spring fish "had never been characteristic of 

 the Dee "until 1903. 



The ELWY and the CLWYD are peculiarly dependent 

 on the weather. In 1903, summer being wet, the 

 rivers kept at a good height for the greater part of 

 the season, and both nets and rods did well. In 1904 

 there was not much rain. Sport and professional 

 fishing were alike poor. Ultimately, however, there 

 were plenty of fish on the spawning beds. The 

 season of 1905 was the worst for many years. All 



