NATURE BY THE WATERSIDE 255 



man in his nets walked, in many places, knee deep 

 in dead smolts, and that the ground for a consider- 

 able distance was silvered with their scales. Under 

 these circumstances the samlets sometimes accumu- 

 late to such an extent that they have to be carted 

 on to the nearest land and used as manure. This 

 waste of valuable fish food is so great that it can 

 hardly be reckoned, and in future years must tell 

 greatly upon the British yield of salmon. 



