APPENDIX 287 



fight side by side instead of against each other, these legiti- 

 mate desires could, so far as the Test is concerned, and pre- 

 sumably in other rivers, be achieved, and that at no sacrifice 

 to either party. This is, of course, the difficulty, for the real 

 divergence of interests is at the present moment more between 

 the respective salmon fishing interests than between the 

 respective interests of salmon and trout fishermen. 



The views of the owners of each salmon beat cannot be con- 

 sidered as identical. Each owner would very naturally like 

 to see the salmon allowed every facility for running at least as 

 far as the upper waters of his own fishing, but would perhaps 

 consider that this limit (his own water) was a very excellent 

 place to check the upward running of the fish. 



This evil to the majority could only be legitimately stopped 

 by amending the law as it at present exists. Strong Parlia- 

 mentary action might lead to such amendments as would 

 permit the great majority of riparian owners in the common 

 interest to check at some agreed upon place on any specified 

 river any future influx of salmon, unnecessary so far as the 

 salmon industry and undesirable in so far as the trout waters 

 are concerned. 



But from whatever cause this decrease arises, the increase in 

 the number of salmon returning to the Test will probably never 

 affect the trout waters above Mottisfont ; but it is wiser to 

 consider the possibilities, and to the riparian owners above 

 Mottisfont the possible danger that their waters may be thus 

 affected is very real. Their course seems plain. 



In the first place, a mutual agreement between the riparian 

 owners, as regards both salmon and trout, above Nursling 

 would probably result, not only in adequate and combined 

 representation on the Hampshire Fishing Board, but in 

 obtaining Parliamentary sanction for the erection of weirs 

 capable of stopping the run of salmon above, or even below, 

 Mottisfont, should such be necessary. From my own know- 

 ledge those interested in salmon above Nursling have no desire 

 to see the salmon permitted so high up the river as Mottisfont. 





