22 LEAVES FEOM A GAME BOOK. 



though they be keen anglers, are usually also very care- 

 less ; and thus it comes to pass, when the drought ends 

 and the long looked for flood comes, which should stock 

 the rivers, numbers of gentlemen are to be heard wasting 

 much breath in wondering why no fish have ascended 

 their streams ! In cases where the estuaries are not very 

 deep or very wide, the fish can easily be protected by 

 sinking objects in which the net is bound to become 

 entangled. A good big stone wrapped round with thorn 

 bushes, and tied up with barbed wire, will play delightful 

 havoc with any net ; or an empty three-dozen champagne 

 case, filled with stones and externally " porcupined " with 

 long strong nails, and dropped into the water at intervals, 

 is an easy way of protecting an estuary, for this preserver 

 can be deposited exactly where it is desired to put it. In 

 the first place the case can be laid empty in the stern of 

 a coble, then the stones can be added, the lid fastened 

 down, and the projecting nails driven in, when the boat 

 can be pulled to the spot it is desired to protect, and a 

 good shove will deposit this salmon life protector in its 

 position, while one man can easily put down a lot of these 



