16 THE NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS 



fast approaching ruin. Men of talent and experience 

 travelled, examined, arid tried to discover a remedy ; 

 the habits of the fish were more perfectly discovered 

 and known, and by artificial breeding and marking 

 the young as well as the old fish, the time they remained 

 in rivers and in the sea is perfectly known now. But 

 for all the discoveries made, and fishings in the most 

 deplorable state, nothing could arouse the Govern- 

 ment and the Legislature of the country to even at- 

 tempt to stem the current of destruction. Many 

 gentlemen of the press endeavoured even to force on 

 the country the necessity of immediate reform in the 

 existing laws, but without effect ; for it seemed as if 

 those that had the undoubted right to protect the fish 

 had conspired together for their actual extermination ; 

 at all events, they looked on the departing race with 

 the utmost coolness and composure, and still nothing 

 is done. 



I have, for many years back, written in several of 

 the leading journals of the country, exposing the 

 state of the laws, and endeavouring to convince pro- 

 prietors of fishings that their property was fast dis- 

 appearing. At the same time, I have observed and 

 closely watched the habits of the salmon, and experi- 

 mented on both young and old, endeavouring to discover 

 their uncertain proceedings as clearly as possible. I 

 repeated the observations and experiments year after 

 year, until I was convinced of their accuracy ; and 

 being aware that the discoveries would be useful to 

 those interested in improving rivers, as well as to a 

 certain class of honourable naturalists, in 1848 I 

 wrote a pamphlet, stating part of the facts I had 

 arrived at, some of which may not be out of place to 

 repeat here. I will therefore begin with 



