MORE BAILIFFS WANTED 199 



almost incredible ; but that it is so, is a fact. As I 

 have shown, the majority is most commonly formed 

 by the elected members, many of which are neither 

 fishermen nor naturalists, but who by their numbers 

 in attending the meetings control the voting of each 

 Board. 



Licences should be made dearer, a much more rigid 

 control should be exercised by an increased number of 

 bailiffs, and the close time should be extended. (The 

 influence of the elected members is frequently exerted 

 in the opposite direction.) The result would be better 

 fishing and increased revenues. Netting for trout 

 should be made criminal ; the close time for weekly 

 salmon netting should be extended. Every genuine 

 fisherman would benefit from such legislation, whether 

 he be the man with the five-guinea rod or he who cuts 

 his willow and fishes with a worm. The evils caused 

 by the gentleman of the moonlight net,* the lime- 

 thrower, and the raker -out of spawning fish with 

 sharpened steel implements, should be minimized 

 as much as possible. The wholesale destruction of 

 salmon before they enter fresh water and trout by 

 netting is, in my opinion, a crime which in the long 

 run must prejudicially affect the whole industry. It 

 is for the various Conservancy Boards to justify their 

 existence by a fearless and determined effort to legis- 

 late for the future good of the many and for the welfare 

 of the waters they control, f 



* Only too common in Wales. 



| See Appendix, Salmon v. Trout. 



