OCTOBER 229 



morning at any time of the season ; but 

 now a basket of similar weight is to be 

 expected only on an exceptionally good 

 day in spring, or during the August or 

 September floods. The trout have not 

 become warier than they were of old. 

 The change, my friend declares, is attri- 

 butable to their having become fewer. 

 Pike have been multiplying. They are 

 plentiful in all the many backwaters 

 and in the deep still bays. They destroy 

 thousands of trout. They have practically 

 absolute sanctuary. Now and then one 

 of them is taken on a lure that is being 

 plied for salmon ; but otherwise they are 

 left to prey and to propagate in peace. 

 If the pike were systematically netted 

 out the stocks of game fish would rapidly 

 revive. Meanwhile it is well that the 

 trout should have a yearly fortnight more 

 of freedom than the Law commands. 

 During the first half of October the 

 salmon of the Tay are still fair game ; but 

 in our part of the river that is what may 

 be called a derisory privilege. You might 



