i8 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



is, the fishermen in the upper parts of the Tweed 

 formerly made up the chief part of their rent in this 

 manner ; for there is no law against killing foul fish, 

 except in close time.* 



I have now given a brief account of the Salmon, 

 from his first entry into fresh water till he has 

 spawned. It remains only to trace him back to the 

 sea.f 



When the spawning is finished, the fish become 

 very lank and weak, and fall into deep easy water, 

 where they have not to contend with the current : 

 here, after a time, their strength is recruited, when, 

 as the spring advances, the strongest fish leave the 

 depths and draw into the streams. At this time 

 they become clear in colour, and are comparatively 

 well-made ; but their flesh is soft, and without 

 flavour. J They now move down the river by degrees, 



* " Unclean and unseasonable " salmon are now protected 

 by law. The expression presents certain difficulties of interpretation, 

 but it obviously includes kelts, and should also include fish which 

 are very near the spawning time. (ED.) 



f One of the troubles in rivers with restricted spawning areas 

 is that later-coming fish plough up the redds in which earlier fish 

 have deposited their ova. This is probably a serious hindrance to 

 the increase of salmon in some districts. It has lately been sug- 

 gested in The Field, by Major Ashley Dodd, that redds, when they 

 have been used, should be protected with pieces of wire-netting 

 which could be pegged down in the bed of the stream or kept in 

 position by heavy stones. They prevent other fish from disturbing 

 the gravel. The suggestion is sensible and the plan should be easily 

 put into practice. (ED.) 



% Now that it is illegal to kill kelts, the " comparatively well- 

 made " fish of which Scrope speaks, now usually described as " well- 

 mended," need a little caution on the part of anglers whose experi- 

 ence is not great. A well-mended kelt may be quite bright and 

 deceptive, the more so as one sometimes comes across clean spring 

 fish which are of decidedly lanky shape. The safest test of condition 



