APPENDIX. 85 



from erecting weirs, bulwarks, cairns, or any device what- 

 ever, that would obstruct the ingress or egress of salmon 

 to and from the rivers. Nets of less than two inches and 

 a half on each side of the square of the mesh were illegal, 

 as under that size they were supposed to kill the young 

 fish. They were also bound to protect the red and black 

 fish during the close time, so that by strict attention to 

 these regulations, the food of the country would not be 

 found diminishing ; and when these rules were strictly at- 

 tended to, salmon were abundant in all the rivers and 

 streams in the kingdom ; and under the same regulations, 

 I have no hesitation in saying we would have them so 

 still : but I have little faith in the frequent- attempted 

 salmon legislations ; for even these attempts, although they 

 were successful, are of such a puny nature, that they 

 would only give a drop in the bucket of what is required. 

 And until government put a stop to these coast-side ma- 

 rauders altogether, any attempt at just legislation on the 

 subject will be entirely out of the question ; for it is sure 

 to be opposed by them and their supporters, and is almost 

 sure to undergo the same fate as the bill introduced by 

 the Duke of Argyll last year. What we require in the 

 first place is a regular close time, and that at the proper 

 season for salmon throughout their breeding time. No 

 salmon should be caught after the 15th of August in any 

 year; for it is well known that from the 15th of August 

 to the 15th of September is the proper time for the 

 breeders running up the river, and that very few go up 

 after that time. Therefore, we may fully conclude, that 

 the present fishery laws could not be more properly fixed 

 for the destruction of salmon, although they were intended 

 to end the race. The rivers at present are strictly pre- 

 served during the present close time ; but that can be of 

 little benefit, as breeding fish are now rarely to be seen, 

 and never can be seen while these everlasting barriers are 

 allowed to stand round the coast from the 1st of Febru- 

 ary to the 14th of September.. But just clear off from 

 the coasts and estuaries all fixed machinery, and close the 

 fishings on the 15th of August, and in the course of a very 

 few years hence, Scotland will have salmon both abundant 

 and cheap.' " 



G 3 



