72 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



Among my visits to the Tay, I must not forget to mention one 

 paid by me, in July 1854, to the Storrnonthfield breeding-grounds, 

 in company with Mr. Robert Buist, late superintendent of the 

 river, and other gentlemen belonging to the committee of 

 management. I need scarcely say that I was much gratified by 

 what was pointed out to me on that occasion ; and although I 

 cannot subscribe to the notion entertained, that a great and 

 remunerative increase in the yield of the river has accrued, or is 

 ever likely to accrue, from this source of supply, without the 

 scale on which the experiments are conducted being greatly 

 enlarged, I am fully sensible of the advantages which have 

 already resulted from the carrying on of these experiments. 

 This, at least, is plain, that the greater the light thrown upon the 

 natural history of the salmon, the more accordant with what is 

 required will be the means taken, legislatively or otherwise, to 

 uphold and enlarge its stock of supply. The Tay proprietors, if 

 by their investigations they add but one solitary fact to what is 

 already known as regards the monarch of our rivers, will assist 

 to do themselves, as well as others, an enduring service. This 

 consideration alone appears to me sufficient in order to prompt 

 the carrying on of their practical inquiries, apart from any proof 

 deemed to have been obtained by a few sanguine upholders of 

 the scheme, as to the decided increase of Tay produce through 

 means of the Stormonthfield nurseries. 



THE TAKING OF THE SALMON. 



i. 

 A BIRR ! a whirr ! a salmon 's on, 



A goodly fish, a thumper ! 

 Bring up, bring up the ready gaff, 

 And when we land him we shall quaff 

 Another glorious bumper ! 1 



1 The previous fortifying of the angler and fisherman accompanying him, 

 with a dram, is here taken for granted. 



