BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 121 



though they are never at that time good or whole- 

 some ; to the defects of the laws ; and to depreda- 



NOTES. 



to be settled by universal consent. We are, then, at issue 

 only on the cruives and the species of salmon, of which 

 in their order. 



1. As to the stake-nets, I confess that until I read this 

 report and saw the drawing at the end of it, I had formed 

 a very different conception of the thing from what it really 

 is. We see that the evidence is different on their operation; 

 some say that they are injurious, others that they are bene- 

 ficial; the man who derives his living from them cannot be 

 expected to concur in their condemnation, whilst he who 

 is prejudiced by them represents them to be of the most 

 destructive nature. As well might we expect the poacher 

 to condemn the spear, and the net and coble, in close time, 

 as the owner of stake-nets to say they are prejudicial to 

 the general prosperity of the salmon fisheries. This fact 

 must be ascertained by the knowledge of impartial, disin- 

 terested, and intelligent men. Without pretending to de- 

 cide the question, I would merely suggest, if the other 

 much more important points were settled to be carried into a 

 law, whether, if the stake-nets were only used without the 

 rivers in the six summer months, and the mesh or moke 

 were to be two inches and a half broad, by which the un- 

 sizeable fish would escape, they would do any harm. This, 

 however, must be decided by other evidence than that of 

 interested fishermen. I have heard it remarked, and I 

 believe it to be true, that if the more important abuses are 

 corrected, the stake-nets in the proper season are not en- 

 titled to any consideration. 

 2. As to the net and coble; the fish must be taken with 



