INTRODUCTORY 5 



acts and the changed conditions of our salmon fisheries have clearly 

 enough demonstrated. 



In writing of the various rivers it will, I think, be found that 

 I do not hesitate to point out the unfortunate conditions which 

 exist here and there ; or, on the other hand, the great improvements 

 which have here and there been effected or are in contemplation. 

 In all cases my views of what seems best for the general interest 

 are based on the broad principles which have been so clearly laid 

 down by the Elgin Commission, and which, I may add, are in entire 

 harmony with the results of my own experience. I do not desire 

 to labour this point in any way, but it happens that the subject 

 of Salmon Fisheries is one about which people are apt to become 

 strangely dogmatic, and to forget that the conditions present in one 

 part of the country are quite different from those in other parts. 

 It is a common experience to find that a man who has a salmon 

 fishery in the West Highlands, or on the East Coast, or in the 

 Solway, regards all Scottish Salmon Fisheries as exactly like his 

 own, or as differing only in degree. Indeed it is not altogether 

 uncommon to come upon a man who, though he owns rights of 

 salmon fishing, has no personal knowledge of fishing at all, but who 

 is none the less ready to pose as a first-class authority on the 

 subject, thanks to his capacity for picking other people's brains. 

 Some writers also, and here I desire to speak with all deference, 

 since I myself may be regarded as guilty, have ventured to give to 

 the world what in my humble opinion are rather ill-digested 

 theories, and to denounce in rather wholesale fashion this or that 

 particular kind of netting or poaching practice, or to attach perhaps 

 very undue importance to some system of improvement, coupling their 

 statements with the assurance that if their particular views were 

 acted upon usually regardless of cost wonderful results would 

 follow in a few years. I have watched salmon fisheries long enough 

 to observe that even when the most carefully matured operations 

 are put into practice recovery of a depleted fishery is extremely 

 slow. It is easy to destroy a river ; it is difficult, and costly, and 

 requires a deal of patience to restore it again. 



United action along a definite line of policy is generally necessary 

 on the part of a number of people. Bad seasons will come now and 

 again, and some men are apt to break away. The personal factor 

 is usually a danger. By continuance only will it gradually appear 

 that the bad seasons are not quite so bad as formerly, and that the 

 good seasons are becoming better. The operation is not wholly 



