122 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 



are to be seen bobbing in every direction, which 

 renders it impossible for any fish during open 

 time to ascend the stream. 



Stake and bag-nets, or fixed engines of any 

 kind, for the capture of salmon in the sea 

 dam-dykes, without openings or stairs in them 

 saw-mills, the owners of which are allowed 

 to send their dust into the rivers bleachfields 

 and dyeworks, the most of whose proprietors 

 make no scruple to pour their poisonous chemi- 

 cals into the pure stream direct, so that not a 

 smoult can attempt to pass without being de- 

 stroyed; these are chiefly the causes of the great 

 falling off of the salmon in our rivers. Want of 

 sufficient protection to the spawning fish is an- 

 other cause, without doubt, but this neglect is 

 nothing in comparison to the other evils; the 

 poacher may do much harm, but the first-named 

 evils are the sure methods of destroying the 

 breed altogether. 



