" EARL Y " AND " LA TE " SALMON RIVERS. 85 



tioned in Ireland, and which some still advocate, 

 though by the many it is objected to. I shall also 

 endeavour to show that five months of the year at 

 least should be closed for net-fishing. That some 

 " clean" fish can be obtained in some rivers during 

 January is an undeniable fact ; that others may be 

 obtained in December and November is equally pa- 

 tent, and for that matter throughout every day in the 

 year, as I have already stated in my former article ; 

 but these are exceptions to the general rule " odd- 

 fish" in fact and it cannot be denied that the three 

 months in question comprise the period when the 

 great bulk of the spawning process is accomplished 

 in all rivers, and hence, primd facie, all rivers should 

 be closed during them. 



The exodus upwards is to a certain extent per- 

 petual ; that downwards is not so the fish which have 

 spawned commencing their descent in January and 

 continuing it through February and March, when it 

 may be said to be all over, or nearly so. 



There are two simple considerations then to be 

 observed in determining the times for open and close 

 seasons : the first is as to the period of time requisite 

 to desist from killing your fish, to ensure the reserva- 

 tion of a sufficient number for reproduction ; the second 

 is to fix the most suitable time to allot for that object. 

 The Act of 18G1 has fixed the close season for England 

 from the 12th of September to the 1st of February; 



