MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 237 



In their thus instinctively searching" for proper 

 spawning places, they make their way up to such 

 shallows as one would think it impossible for any 

 animal wanting legs and feet ever to crawl up 

 to; therefore every improper weir or dam that 

 obstructs their free passage ought to be thrown 

 down, as they are one great cause of the salmon 

 quitting the proper spawning places in the river, 

 to return to spawn in the sea as well as they 

 can; where, it is fair to conclude, their fry, or 

 their roe, are swallowed up by other fish, as soon 

 as they or it, are spread abroad along the shores. 



It will readily be perceived, that the fishers' 

 weirs are made chiefly with a view of preventing 

 their neighbour fishers from coming in for their due 

 share; but, were the fisheries let, as before named, 

 the different fishing places would then be planned 

 out by the stewards, as well as remedying other 

 faults, with an impartial hand. There are, besides 

 weirs and dams, other causes which occasion the 

 falling off of the breed of salmon, by greatly 

 preventing them from entering and making their 

 way up rivers for the purpose of spawning. They 

 have a great aversion to passing through impure 

 water, and even snow-water stops them; for they 

 will lie still, and wait until it runs off. The filth 

 of manufactories is also very injurious, as well as 

 the refuse which is washed off the uncleaned 

 streets of large towns by heavy rains. Were this 

 filth in all cases led away and laid on the land, 

 it would be of great value to the farmer, and 

 persons should be appointed to do that duty, not 

 in a slovenly or lazy manner, but with punctuality 

 and despatch. In this the health and comfort of 

 the inhabitants of towns ought to be considered 



