206 APPLICATION. 



not a hundredth part of that taken illegally during 

 close time. Moreover, the fact of salmon being caught 

 in this state in the open season proves that the 

 rivers are open too long, and that the law should 

 be altered in this respect also. 



At certain seasons roe is certainly a murderous 

 bait, and a practised roe-fisher might almost depopu- 

 late a stream ; but then it is only deadly in the fall 

 of the year when trout are out of condition, or in 

 the spring before they come into it ; and killing 

 trout in such circumstances deserves no better name 

 than butchery. For some time roe was, and is still 

 to the north of the Forth, considered an infallible 

 specific for catching trout ; a reserve which is to be 

 brought to the attack when everything else fails. 

 It is not, however, looked upon with quite so much 

 favour now. Anglers have begun to find that the 

 presence of a pot of roe in their baskets when 

 setting out by no means ensures the presence of 

 trout there on their return; and we have seen 

 anglers, starting for a first trial of this wonderful 

 bait, sit down at a pool, and, wrapping their plaids 

 about them, remain there for hours, no doubt 

 expecting, according to the common notion, that 

 they would attract all the trout in the neighbour- 

 hood, and quite astonished when they had to return 

 without a single one. The fact is, that the wonderful 

 properties of this bait are greatly exaggerated ; as a 

 lure for trout during the season when they are in 

 condition it has no advantage, in any state of water, 



