158 



the nets, not restored to the riven The expediency of 

 destroying the kelts has also been maintained, on the 

 ground that they devour "parr " in large quantities. I 

 incline to think this a mistake. The kelts generally .go 

 down to the sea in February and March, at which 

 time the "parr," like the common " minnows" hide them- 

 selves in the muddy bottom or sides of the river, or 

 under stones. A neighbour of mine, who kept a supply of 

 minnows in a pond in his garden for many years, told 

 me that they always, during the winter months, buried 

 themselves in the mud. My gamekeeper, when in winter 

 he wants " minnows " for trout fishing, tells me that he has 

 to seek for them among tree roots and other rubbish along 

 the banks, by means of a small net. This is also probably 

 the case with "parr" 



II. FISHERIES. 



Having offered these remarks in regard to Fish, I pro- 

 ceed to the second part of the programme, viz. Fisheries, 

 which I presume refers to the persons who fish for salmon, 

 and to the rules for controlling their modes of fishing. 



In Scotland, as I believe is the case also in England 

 and Ireland, the original right of fishing for salmon is in 

 the Crown, the privilege being capable of being exercised 

 only by those who can show a Crown charter. 



Until about thirty years ago, the Crown rights in this 

 matter seem, in Scotland at least, to have been little 

 attended to. 



About that time, steps were taken by the Department 

 of Woods and Forests, to ascertain what proprietors who 

 were fishing for salmon, could show Crown charters. 



The investigation began in the south-east of Scotland, 



