SALMON FISHING 207 



whole river, and as a matter of fact sport on 

 most rivers is seriously interfered with by netting 

 at the mouth or in the lower waters. The 

 question is a very difficult one, and has led to 

 much legislation and litigation. It is clear that 

 everybody, from the fisherman in the sea to 

 the owners of the spawning beds at the head 

 of the river and its tributaries, ought to have 

 some share of the salmon, but I do not think 

 that legislation has always managed to dis- 

 tribute this share fairly, or in a way which is 

 satisfactory to the various interests, and is likely 

 to protect the average stock of fish. I do not 

 write as an expert in these matters, but it appears 

 to me that on very many rivers the netting is 

 too severe and too constant during the spring 

 and summer, and that it might on the other 

 hand be prolonged to a later date in the autumn. 

 At present it often happens that anglers get 

 practically no sport at all till the netting season 

 is over, and it is becoming the habit of the 

 salmon in some rivers to ascend them later in 

 the season owing to the fact that year by year 

 it is only the late running fish that have a 

 free passage. This state of things is neither to 



