® EARLY” AND “LATE” SALMON RIVERS. 85 
tioned in Ireland, and which some still advocate, 
though by the many it is objected to. I shall also 
endeavour to show that five months of the year at 
least should be closed for net-fishing. That some 
“clean” fish can be obtained in some rivers during 
January is an undeniable fact; that others may be 
obtained in December and November is equally pa- 
tent, and for that matter throughout every day in the 
year, as I have already stated in my former article ; 
but these are exceptions to the general rule—“ odd- 
fish” in fact—and it cannot be denied that the three 
months in question comprise the period when the 
great bulk of the spawning process is accomplished 
in all rivers, and hence, prima facie, all rivers should 
be closed during them. 
The exodus upwards is to a certain extent per- 
petual ; that downwards is not so—the fish which have 
spawned commencing their descent in January and 
continuing it through February and March, when it 
may be said to be all over, or nearly so. 
There are two simple considerations then to be 
observed. in determining the times for open and close 
seasons : the first is as to the period of time requisite 
to desist from killing your fish, to ensure the reserva- 
tion of a sufficient number for reproduction ; the second 
is to fix the most suitable time to allot for that object. 
The Act of 1861 has fixed the close season for England 
from the 12th of September to the 1st of February ; 
