WATER POACHERS I9 



in a single night than can be carried away; and 

 when the gang is chased by the watchers the fish 

 have generally to be left behind, as they are difficult 

 things to carry. The flesh of spawning fish is loose 

 and watery, and is most insipid and tasteless. It is, 

 however, sold to the poorest class of people at a few 

 pence per pound. In one outlying village during 

 last close-season poached salmon was so common 

 that the cottagers fed their poultry upon it through 

 the whole winter. It is said that several fish were 

 taken each over twenty pounds in weight. Another 

 way of securing salmon and trout from the spawn- 

 ing " redds " is by means of " click-hooks." These 

 are simply large salmon hooks bound together shank 

 to shank and attached to a long cord ; a bit of lead 

 balances them and adds weight. These are used 

 in deep rivers, where spearing by wading is impractic- 

 able. When a fish is seen the hooks are simply 

 thrown beyond it, and then gently dragged until they 

 come immediately beneath; a sharp "click" 

 usually sends them into the soft under-parts of the 

 fish, which is then drawn out. That natural 

 poacher, the pike, is frequently ridded from trout 

 streams in this fashion. Of course, poaching with 

 click-hooks requires to be done in the daytime, or 

 by the aid of an artificial light. Lights attract 

 salmon and trout just as they attract birds, and tar 

 brands are frequently used by poachers. Shooting 



