132 ABSTRACT OF EVIDENCE 



ations arise from the want of protection to the 

 breeding fish ; to the fishing all the year over ; at- 

 tributes the decrease solely to those causes ; spawn- 

 ing beds are in fords in running water generally ; 

 thinks gilse a different species from salmon at 

 ten pounds' weight; when full of spawn they are 

 full grown ; thinks they get their full size in 16 or 

 17 months ; young salmon are four, five, and six 

 pounds at a year old, when they return to the 

 rivers. 



John Halliday. Has been engaged in the sal- 

 mon fishery forty years, as well in Ireland as in 

 Scotland ; salmon spawn in running streams in 

 fine sand ; don't spawn all at the same time ; full 

 of spawn by October, and from thence even to 

 January ; this is the general case with all rivers ; 

 they begin to ascend the rivers in August to 

 spawn ; many in the spring and summer months ; 

 salmon fall off after being in the fresh water ; get 



NOTES. 



Mr. John Halliday. After confirming every thing which 

 the other witnesses and myself have said in all material 

 points, he adds, that he thinks the same close time should ex- 

 tend to all rivers in Scotland and England, (I am indebted 

 also to Mr. Halliday,) and that close time should extend 

 to the latter end of March or the beginning of April, and 

 should not continue longer than the 10th of September ; very 

 advantageous if the kelts were allowed to return to the sea. 

 He thinks that the cruivespreventthe mother fish from going 

 np to breed ; and reprobates the mill-dyke without an escape. 



