170 SUMMER-TIDE IN A HIGHLAND FOEEST 



one of these fish is suffering just as much through fear 

 as it would if hooked by an angler: the presence of a 

 tiny barb in its gristly jaw would be but an imperceptible 

 addition to its tribulation. And then consider how much 

 prolonged was the persecution. From the first immersion 

 of the net to its final bringing ashore, after the necessary 

 repairs, full of fish half a dozen salmon and several 

 scores of sea-trout from 2 Ib. up to 5 Ib. was not much 

 under two hours; whereas any capable angler would 

 have backed himself to land the biggest of ,the salmon 

 in ten or fifteen minutes at most. If, therefore, I am 

 right in my contention that the suffering inflicted on a 

 fish in its capture consists solely of the agony of fear, 

 then it must be conceded that the balance of mercy is 

 not on the side of the netsman as against the fair angler. 

 Note, also, that the draft used on this occasion is the 

 most expeditious of nets : the trammel, whammel, or 

 hang-net, now prohibited by law in Scotland, but still 

 in general use by Irish fishermen, kills salmon by slow 

 strangulation; the stake and bag-nets keep them im- 

 prisoned for many hours ; but the salmon's tussle with 

 the angler is reckoned by minutes. With clear conscience, 

 then, may every fair fisher echo Tom Stoddart's stave 



' A birr ! a whirr ! the salmon 's up, 

 Give lino, give line and measure ; 

 But now he turns ! keep down ahead, 

 And lead him as a child is led, 

 And land him at your leisure. 

 Hark to the music of the reel ! 

 'Tis welcome, it is glorious ; 

 It wanders through the winding wheel 

 Returning and victorious.' 



