188 THE SALMON. 



much impregnated with saline matters as that of the 

 ocean, do not relish the salmon that is caught about 

 Perth, only about five and twenty miles up the river, 

 with a wide estuary for great part of the way, and 

 a tide, though of fresh water, to the termination. 



On this account it is to be regretted that, in conse- 

 quence of a decision of the House of Lords, given, as 

 one regrets to say, more in the spirit of aristocracy 

 than in that of wisdom, the fishings in the lower or 

 sea part of the Scottish estuaries have been in a great 

 measure destroyed ; and that, for the keeping, or upon 

 the pretext, of laws and privileges, made and granted 

 in times of comparative barbarity and ignorance, the 

 public should be compelled to use salmon in a state 

 much inferior to that in which they might have had it. 

 At one time, permanent nets, extending for a consider- 

 able way into the water, were erected in all the estua- 

 aries ; and, while there was plenty of room for the free 

 run of spawning fish in the centre or deep part of the 

 river, great numbers of fish in the very best condition 

 were caught in these nets. But as these modern im- 

 provements could not have been contemplated gene- 

 rations before any one thought of putting them in 

 execution, the proprietors of the upper parts of the 

 rivers had got vested rights in the salmon ; and, that 

 these might not be interfered with, the public are 

 obliged to content themselves with salmon in a state 

 closely verging upon that in which it is not wholesome, 

 instead of having it in prime condition. 



When the salmon have once entered a river, their 

 progress is not easily stopped. In Europe, notwith- 

 standing the length of the course, and the number of 



