170 THE SALMON. 



addition of 2 9 days, or about a month, to the period of re- 

 pose or abstinence. This is a most valuable reform, and all 

 the more so that the dates or days, though not the dura- 

 tion, of the annual close-time, are allowed to be varied in 

 different localities by the Commissioners, who are " to 

 determine, subject to the provisions of this Act, at what 

 dates the annual close-time for every district shall com- 

 mence and terminate." This is a duty involving several 

 difficulties, greatly increased by what we take leave to 

 think the serious mistake of making the season the same 

 length in every district. The difference between districts 

 is, for reasons previously stated, not so properly described 

 by the phrases ' late' and ' early' as by the phrases ' long- 

 seasoned' and ' short-seasoned,' salmon beginning to get 

 out of condition about the same time in all rivers, but vary- 

 ing greatly as to the times in which they begin to ascend 

 different rivers in good condition. The vaxiations, there- 

 fore, ought to be made at the commencement of the season; 

 but of course, when the law absolutely fixes the length 

 of season, every variation as to the commencement would 

 have a corresponding, or rather counteracting, effect upon 

 the close. Power was also given to the Commissioners 

 to decide for what period in each district rod-fishing 

 shall be permitted after the withdrawal of the nets. 



The new close- times have not yet been fixed in all 

 caseSj owing partly to the owners of several rivers or dis- 

 tricts having neglected to form Boards, as required by 

 the Act, and partly to delays in procuring from the Home 

 Office the necessary confirmations. So far, however, as 

 the Commissioners have been enabled to proceed, they 

 have divided the rivers or districts into three different 



