THE SMELT 63 



as of cucumbers and violets diffuses itself, plainly 

 perceptible at a distance of more than fifty yards. 



The fish, as soon as landed, are neatly packed in 

 small boxes, and sent off to the great towns, where 

 they command a high price 3s. or 4s. a pound. 

 But by the time they arrive at their destination 

 they will have lost much of their delicate texture 

 and exquisite flavour, which we shall presently be 

 savouring in the inn parlour close at hand. 



The smelt is an exclusively estuarine fish. In 

 March it ascends to the limits of brackish water, 

 and sheds its spawn profusely on stones in the 

 river bed. There is no close-time provided for 

 these fish by law ; hence in some rivers the Annan 

 and the Nith, for example where they were plenti- 

 ful in former times, they have been netted to the 

 verge of extinction, and the industry, once very 

 profitable, no longer pays. All fishermen to whom 

 I have spoken on the subject agree that a close 

 time is desirable ; but so long as it is not made 

 binding upon all alike, none is willing to hold 

 his hand, while others may be fishing at other 

 parts of the same stream. 



