SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCOTLAND. 533 



condition of these rivers cannot be altered, as is easily 

 understood if, as is probable, Mr. Archibald Young's theory 

 of temperature * be correct. The period ought to be made 

 " not less than one hundred and sixty-eight days," as in 

 Ireland, though a discretionary power might safely be left 

 with the inspector to make it less in exceptional cases, 

 after careful inquiry. 



WEEKLY CLOSE TIME. 



The weekly close time is too short ; it should be ex- 

 tended to forty-eight hours. There is an almost universal 

 consensus of opinion on this point. The amendment would 

 act beneficially in more ways than one ; it would allow 

 more fish to get to the spawning beds, and it would still 

 further enlist the protection of the upper proprietors by 

 introducing more fish to their waters. The Irish close 

 time is forty-eight hours, and the English was made forty- 

 eight by the House of Commons, though reduced by the 

 House of Lords to forty- two. It is well worthy of con- 

 sideration, also, whether the whole period of forty-eight 

 hours should not be made to commence at different times 

 in the upper and lower netting portions of rivers. It seems 

 of little use to let fish pass one series of nets if they are 

 to be caught in another series higher up, because they 

 have not had time to get further. This plan, which goes 

 by the name of a "double slap," has received the approval 

 of several experienced fishers. 



POACHING. 



Sufficient poaching clauses should be introduced into 

 any new Act, with penalties which shall act as deterrents. 



* See Scottish Meteorological Journal, 1879, p. 258. " Sea and 

 Salmon Fisheries " (British Industry Series), p. 218. 



