128 SALMON AND TROUT. 



which go through it, and are secured by nuts or screw ends 

 underneath. On this support (/) the upper end of the ladder 

 rests free, so that its floor is level with the top of the weir and 

 just touching it, while the sides of the ladder are higher, so 

 that the water can flow down between them. The ends of the 

 sides (//), where they meet the ends of the guides (v v), are 

 cut at angles (see illustration) to permit of the ladder working 

 in its place, as the platform rises or falls. The small space 

 between the ladder (d] and the edge of the dam (If) can be 

 covered by a board nailed to the dam if it was necessary to 

 prevent any water falling through. 



' The platform () floats on the surface of the water, and is 

 held fast by the two bars (s s) which are fastened to hooks in 

 the weir and platform. The platform is formed of several 

 eight to nine inch logs of well-seasoned wood (). These are 

 fastened together by the stout piece (r), on which rests the 

 cross-beam (0), the ladder being kept in place by nails in the 

 supports (/>), which act as axles on which it works. The end 

 of the ladder (<?) projects beyond the platform, and touches 

 the surface of the pool, or dips into it a little, according to the 

 amount of water flowing over the ladder. It will be seen that, 

 as the water rises or falls, the platform rises or falls with it. In 

 a small water the platform rests motionless ; but in a heavy 

 water, forming waves under the weir, it shakes. 



' The converging guards (v v} are for the purpose of direct- 

 ing the water which comes in at (ui] under the beam (z) on to 

 the ladder. They are about twelve inches in height, and pro- 

 vided with two blocks like those in the ladder () to break the 

 force of the water, and enable the fish to get over. The object 

 of the beam (z) is to control the amount of water passing into 

 the ladder at (iv) (the height of this opening being only about 

 six and a half inches), and prevent too much water flowing 

 over. In spring and summer high waters prevail in the 

 Poprad, enabling the salmon to get over the high dam ; but in 

 autumn there is generally a low water, and the ladder is neces- 

 sary in September, October, and November. 



