Close -Time for Trout. 333 



means alone whole sack-loads of fish are killed every 

 winter in the tributaries and upper reaches of the Clyde 

 and other unprotected rivers, while no little havoc is 

 wrought by the cleaner hands that ply the rod and 

 line. But though it is the absence of a close season 

 that affords the unprincipled fisher the most favourable 

 conditions for carrying on his nefarious practices, even 

 in the legitimate fishing season there are not wanting 

 those who, "well covered with the night's black man- 

 tle," or " trusting to the evil counsel of a desert place," 

 condescend to press into their unhallowed service the 

 deadly double-rod and the still more deadly net. It is 

 within my knowledge that there is scarcely a village 

 in Clydesdale but boasts a net or two, and counts the 

 season's captures by thousands. 



The salmon has enjoyed almost a monopoly of the 

 fish legislation such as it has been for six hundred 

 years, and its excellence as a food-fish, and consequent 

 commercial importance, fully entitle it to even more 

 attention than it has hitherto received. The trout may 

 not lay claim to all the virtues of the salmon, but it 

 has been treated as if it were entirely destitute of any. 

 Its edible qualities are well known and require no 

 apology ; its market price is often not much under that 

 of salmon; and possibly had greater vigilance been 

 exercised in its behalf in years long gone by, it would 

 to-day have been of more account than it is in the 

 food-supply of the community. But far as its fortunes 

 have at present sunk beneath those of " the venison of 

 the waters," it still merits regard, if only from an 

 economic point of view, quite as much as the partridge 

 and the black-cock, and is no less deserving of legis- 

 lation for its protection. The angler, however, seeks 

 a close-time chiefly in the interests of his craft. He 

 ranks himself with other sportsmen, and expects that, 

 in any measures that are taken for the protection and 



