334 Appendices. 



fostering of innocent and healthful recreations, the rod, 

 as affording lawful sport to scores of thousands, will 

 meet with at least as much recognition as the gun. 



But it is unnecessary to maintain the general prin- 

 ciple that trout are worthy of preservation, seeing that 

 it has already been admitted in recent legislation both 

 for England and Ireland. The Fresh- water Fisheries 

 Act (England), 1878, declares it to be illegal 



" 1. To fish for, catch, or attempt to catch or kill, 

 trout or char during the close season between 2d 

 October and 1st February following, or during any 

 close season which by bye-law may be substituted for 

 the same. 



"2. To use, or have in possession with the intention 

 of using, any light, otter, lath, jack, snare, wire, spear, 

 gaff, strokehall, snatch, or other like instrument for the 

 purpose of catching or killing trout or char." 



The importance of trout-preservation being surely no 

 less evident and urgent in Scotland than it is in Eng- 

 land, it is hoped there will be a speedy acknowledgment 

 that "what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the 

 gander," and that we shall have it enacted that, in 

 Scotland not only shall all rivers be closed during the 

 winter months to all kinds of fishing, but that even 

 when they are declared open, they shall still be closed 

 to all kinds of illegitimate fishing. So much at least 

 is needful for the protection of the few trout that 

 remain to us. It will, I know, require more than 

 prohibitive and restrictive Acts, however wise, to 

 restore and maintain trout-life in our streams to the 

 full measure of their capabilities; but it is useless to 

 advocate the construction of fish-hatcheries for replen- 

 ishing the waters, until there is some security that pro- 

 pagation shall not minister to plunder. 



Mr Archibald Young, Inspector of Salmon-Fisheries 

 for Scotland, submitted for the opinion of district 



