140 THE SALMON. 



beds for that purpose, but they can only operate 

 upon the light, unfecundated eggs which float 

 down, or such as have not been covered by the 

 gravel, or those which, after having been deposited, 

 are routed up again as before-mentioned, and none 

 of which could, by possibility, ever be hatched. 

 The greatest benefit that can be bestowed on a 

 river is the establishment of hatching-pools, to which 

 the ova may be removed, and out of which the 

 young are allowed to escape so soon as they have 

 absorbed the little sack of nutriment provided by 

 nature for their sustenance while in the baby state. 

 It is waste of time and money to keep them longer. 

 The amended legislation which, in my humble 

 opinion, is required to insure the enormous increase 

 of this invaluable fish would provide for the short- 

 ening of the annual close-time for rods, and the 

 lengthening of the weekly close-time for nets 

 twelve hours extra for the latter would make an 

 immense difference, and the closing of the netting- 

 season should vary according as the rivers are late 

 or early ones. (The fishery inspectors, however, 

 have so admirably argued this point, that I need 

 not insist upon it.) Rod-fishing, either for trout or 

 salmon, should be absolutely prohibited from the 

 end of November to the 1st of March ; no gaff 

 should be used after the 1st of September at latest ; 



