APPENDIX. 81 



my calculation, one hundred and twenty days,) will be in- 

 cubated early in tbe following April ; and in the April 

 twelve months, the fry will be smolts, and in two or three 

 months after grilse of goodly size. 



(f I have now to account for the general scarcity of salmon 

 during some years past. It is called scarcity in contradis- 

 tinction to former abundance. My task is easy and short. 

 I have but to say one or two words defective legislation 

 they comprehend all the causes of salmon scarcity 

 stakenets, bag-nets, weir traps, cruives, leistering, a miscal- 

 culated close time, and, of necessity, a wrong close time. 

 I should like to know how many Members in both Houses 

 of Parliament understand the history and habits of salmon. 

 Fifty ? I doubt it. I should like to be mistaken, but I 

 fear I am not. How can you legislate for that of which 

 you know nothing ? How can you confute the assertions of 

 the monopolists, of Lord Monteagle, for instance, if you 

 know nothing accurately of the history and habits of the 

 valuable creature you wish to preserve? You possess 

 some information, but the major part of it is erroneous, 

 and therefore you are as badly placed for the purposes of 

 correct and wise legislation, as if you were in outer dark- 

 ness. You must totally do away with stake and bag nets ; 

 at any rate, when fixed within arms of the sea or in rivers, 

 for they are the alpha and omega of abominations. And 

 you must begin your close time, as a general rule, by the 

 middle of August ; open it as early as you like for clean 

 fish : make kilt killing fineable, and leistering spawning 

 fish doubly so ; do these things, and there will be no longer 

 a scarcity of salmon." 



THE DECLINE OF THE SALMON FISHERIES. 

 From the Scotch Reformers' Gazette. 



fc We think it is high time that the public attention 

 should be seriously called to this subject. We hope it 

 will be taken up by the new ministry, and here we are 

 willing to admit that protection is imperatively required. 

 We pointed out in a recent article the true cause of the 

 rapid decline of the fisheries. The salmon are simply 

 G 



