34 BRITISH SALMON-FISHERIES. 



fish, or at least salmon, though higher in money value, 

 cost nothing for their "keep," make bare no pastures, hol- 

 low out no turnips, consume no corn, but are, as Franklin 

 expressed.it, "bits of silver pulled out of the water." 



The Tay salmon-fisheries are owned by various private 

 proprietors and corporations, and yield an annual rent of 

 about 18,000. On the Spey they may be said to be 

 worth ,15,000 which is chiefly, if not wholly, paid to the 

 Duke of Richmond. The rental of the Esk we estimate 

 at 10,000, and that of the Tweed at 8000, but it 

 varies considerably. It is fair, however, to compute the 

 annual yield of the British salmon-fisheries, as a source 

 of rental, at 70,000. 



Mr. Bertram, referring to a recent Report of the In- 

 spectors of the English Fisheries, which embraced a sum- 

 mary of the condition of ninety rivers, says : "I gather 

 from it that considerable progress has already been made 

 in arresting the decay of these valuable properties, and 

 that there is every prospect of the best rivers being 

 speedily repeopled with salmon to an extent that will 

 secure them, under proper regulations, from again falling 

 into so low a condition. A careful perusal of this report 

 shows that fixed nets have been nearly abolished ; that 

 portions of rivers not hitherto accessible to fish have been 

 made so, passes and gaps having been created by hun- 

 dreds. Poachers have been caught and punished with 

 great success ; and, according to a review of the report in 

 the Field, a journal which is well -versed in fishery 

 matters, ' salmon have been seen in large quantities in 

 places where they have not been seen these forty years.' " 



The following table shows the quantity of salmon im- 

 ported into London, in boxes weighing each 112 Ibs., 



