382 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



the firm well-flavoured diet which the monarch of the tide fur- 

 nishes us with at the turn of summer. The prevailing error, 

 away from Tweedside, in regard to salmon-roe, requires at least 

 this much of correction ; but I shall not linger upon it further 

 than to express my belief that it is one entertained by the pro- 

 moters of the General Act themselves, including the Commis- 

 sioners, an error they seem to have taken no special pains to be- 

 come disabused of. The section in question was made part and 

 parcel of the General Act, under the impression, evidently, that 

 the acquisition of salmon-roe, as a marketable commodity in great 

 demand, and which could always be disposed of at a remunera- 

 tive price, formed the chief inducement for the salmon poacher 

 to carry on his illegal practices. This was the secret, in fact, of 

 the whole evil. Great things, accordingly, were expected from 

 the prohibitory clause in question, in the way of overcoming the 

 indulgence in salmon-poaching, by rendering it unremunerative, 

 so, at least, we were led to infer from what fell from the mouth- 

 piece of those to whom we owe this measure. In its application 

 to Tweed it was to work wonders, and act as the surest safeguard 

 that could be hit upon to the breeding wealth of that river. Has 

 it done so ? Was the motive imputed the leading inducement to 

 salmon-poaching during the spawning season? I don't affect to 

 extenuate the offence of black-fishing in any degree ; far from 

 it ; but I must give to a considerable number of those who in- 

 dulge in it, the credit of carrying it on as a ploy or sport, sanc- 

 tioned both by great antiquity, and by the example, not many years 

 ago, of their betters, ay, of the very men who are at length 

 prudently and praiseworthily lending a hand in fortifying our 

 rivers for the protection of their finny inmates. But let the 

 motives of the salmon-poaching portion of the community be 

 what they may, I know I am quite correct when I affirm that the 

 expectations grounded on Section xir. of the General Act, in its 

 application to Tweed, have, at the threshold, been disappointed. 



