102 THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



becoming scarcer every year. They are not to be found 

 at all now in many rivers and streams they used to be 

 bred and abound in. Machinery driven by water power is 

 very generally blamed for this, fbut by whom ? Why fre- 

 quently by some of those greedy self-complacent or igno- 

 rant parties who own or who rent salmon fishings, and 

 who, in these capacities, ply the calling of destruction or 

 extermination, as the case may be, in the belief that their 

 own pecuniary interests are of primary consideration, 



" The above remarks chiefly apply to the taking of 

 salmon in the open season, and to the ill-advised length of 

 time allowed by law for this at present. But it never 

 should be forgotten that vast quantities of salmon are 

 destroyed in the night-time, in rivers during the breeding 

 season, by means of torch-light. This most destructive and 

 illegal practice is nearly universal, and, if I am rightly in- 

 formed, it is on the increase everywhere. It is very difficult 

 to detect, and equally so to bring offenders to justice under 

 the present law, which, in my opinion, should be amended 

 forthwith, as the period for killing salmon should also be 

 altered. 



" If it be true, as I aver, that the laws for regulating 

 salmon fisheries have been passed, and are maintained, for 

 the purpose of supplying the people with a most whole- 

 some and nutritious food, to rear which literally costs 

 next to nothing, then, I say, that it is for the interest of 

 the people at large that the destroyers of breeding salmon 

 in close time should be as stringently dealt with as the 

 stealers of sheep, a crime also difficult of detection as well 

 as of proof. And I see no better reason than prejudice 

 and ignorance, and theftuous greed on the part of those 

 who wink at or encourage the taking of salmon by using 

 or purchasing it in close time, and more so as it then is a 

 very unwholesome food. 



" Many object to more stringent laws for the protection 

 of salmon, chiefly because it is looked upon rather as pri- 

 vate property than being confided to private individuals 

 for the benefit of the public ; and in this view the mid- 

 night robber of salmon is but too often looked upon as a 

 very trivial offender, and as such is not unfrequently 

 taken part with and leniently dealt by ; whereas it would 



