ON THE CLOSE SEASON. 29 



and then there is an end of the whole brood for 

 that year. But on the contrary, if the close time 

 commenced on the 1st of October, and all artifi- 

 cial obstructions were removed, the fish being 

 drawn into the rivers by the equinoctial rains, 

 would immediately avail themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity, and go to the places of which they are in 

 search. Surely this is a case in which the laws of 

 Nature should not be defeated by institutions 

 grounded upon false reasoning and interested 

 views. 



The great object is, the first flood after Michael- 

 mas, the rivers being then swollen by the equinoc- 

 tial storms. It is then that the salmon should be 

 protected, and the rivers thrown open to them. 

 Another strong reason why the close time should 

 commence on the 1st of October, and all obstruc- 

 tions be removed to afford the fish every facility to 

 go up the rivers, is, that these floods last but a very 

 short time : the waters once abated, the opportu- 

 nity is lost, and the fish are again exposed to all 

 the injuries which have been enumerated. 



I therefore repeat, that the close time should 

 commence on the 1st of October, that the fish 

 may avail themselves of the first flood after Mi- 

 chaelmas ; and I believe there is no foundation 

 whatever, either in reason or fact, for supposing 

 that salmon are in season in different rivers at dif- 

 ferent times. They are seasonable or unseasonable 

 during the summer months, as they come from 

 the sea, with the tokens upon them. Place two 



