122 SALMONIDvE OF BRITAIN. 



they pay — also, bye-laws can be made by tbe Boards of Conservators, of wbich 

 forty-five exist in England and Wales. 



In fact it was considered inexpedient to have a uniform close time for all rivers, 

 because some were earlier than others. By the Act of 1873 power was given to 

 vary the close time, provided such was sanctioned by an order from the Home 

 Office. But it was not to be less than one hundred and fifty- four days, and should 

 not commence later than Nov. 1st. The weekly close time was extended to 

 forty-eight hours, and cannot begin before six on Friday. It was not to extend 

 over twelve o'clock on Monday. 



Here it will be necessary to make a few remarks on the incidence of the close 

 season, prior to and after the passing of the Act in 1861. Early and late rivers 

 (pp. 59, et seq.) and early and late ascents of salmon for breeding purposes (pp. 66, 

 et seq.') have been noticed, and a brief statement has been given as to the time 

 which the local justices fixed as the close time for rivers in their respective 

 districts (p. 60). Prior to 1860 it seems to have been considered that gravid 

 salmon should be protected not only just at the period of depositing their spawn, 

 but also for some time previously, in order to allow them undisturbed access to 

 their spawning beds. Consequently the earlier breeders were spared where now 

 they are captured, with the result, some observers believe, of making our rivers 

 later, a conclusion not admitted by others. 



The close seasons existing in 1860* and also in 1884 were as follows ;t that 

 which was enacted for each river in 1861, is omitted because it was directed to be 

 uniform in the rivers of England and "Wales commencing Sept. Ist.J 



Aln, Oct. 21st to March 16th (Sept. 1st), Avon, Bristol, August 12th (Sept. 1st), 

 Avon, Devonshire, Jan. 15th to May 6th (Sept. 21st), Avon, Hants, Sept. 12th 

 to Jan. 1st (Sept. 21st), Axe, Nov. 20th to April 18th (Sept. 20th), Ayron, Oct. 

 15th to March 1st (Sept. 1st), Bangor, Oct. 15th to March 10th (Sept. 1st), Camel, 

 Dec. 24th to May 1st (Oct. 1st) Cleddew, Oct. 31st to April 80th (Sept. 1st), 

 Clwyd, Oct. 1st to March 1st (Sept. 15th), Conway, Carnarvonshire, Nov. 30th 

 to April 30th, in Denbighshire, Oct. 1st to Feb. 4th (Sept. 15th), Coquet, Oct. 

 10th to March 8th (Sept. 15th), Dart, Nov. 14th to Feb. 14th (Sept. 1st), Dee, 

 Sept. 1st to Jan. 25th (Sept. 1st), Derwent, Cumberland, Sept. 2Sth to March 10th 

 (Sept. 15), Dovey, Dec. 14th to April 2nd (Sept. 14th), Duddon, Oct. 10th to 

 May 1st (Sept. 15th), Eden, Sept. 25th to Dec. 31st (Sept. 1st, lower waters Sept. 

 10th), Blwy, Oct. 1st to March 1st (Sept. 15th), Esk, Sept. 25th to March 10th 

 (Sept. 15th), Exe, Sept. 20th to Feb. 15th (Sept. 15th), Fowey, Dec. 3rd to May 

 15th (Sept. 1st, lower waters Oct. 1st), Itchen, Sept. 12th to Jan. 1st (Sept. 1st), 

 Kent, Oct. 10th to Feb. 2nd (Sept. 15th), Leven, Oct. 10th to Jan. 2nd (Sept. 

 15th), Lune, Sept. 29th to Feb. 1st (Sept. 1st, lower waters Sept. 8th), Mawddach, 

 Oct. 1st to March 1st (Sept. 1st), Neath, Dec. 10th to March 1st (Sept. 1st), 

 Nevem, Oct. 1st to Feb. 1st (Sept. 1st), Ogmore Dec. 1st to March 1st (Sept. 15th), 

 Ouse, Yorkshire, West Riding, Sept. 25th to Feb. 25th (Sept. 1st), Plyra, Nov. 

 14th to Feb. 14th (Sept. 1st), Ribble, August 31st to Jan. 28th (Sept. 1st), Severn, 

 Glost. and Worcester, Feb. 1st to Deo. 31st, in Salop and Montgomeryshire, Sept. 

 14th to Dec. 31st (Sept. 1st), Tamar, Dec. 16th to March 15th, Taw, Oct. 20th to 

 Feb. 20th (Sept. 21st), Tees, Sept. 17th to Feb. 14th (Sept. 1st), Teifi, Cardigan- 

 shire, Nov. 3rd to March 3rd, in Carmarthenshire, Nov. 1st to April 1st (Sept. 1st), 

 Teign, Dec. 3rd to March 3rd (Sept. 1st), Test, Sept. 12th to Jan. 1st (Sept. 1st), 

 Torridge, Oct. 20th to Feb. 20th (Sept. 21st), Towey, Nov. 1st to April 1st (Sept. 

 1st), Trent, August 12th to Nov. 12th (Sept. 1st), Trowerin, Sept. 1st to Jan. 31st 

 (Sept. 1st), Tyne, Sept. 10th to Feb. 10th (Sept. 1st) ; Usk, Oct. 14th to March 



* The return has the following note appended " Accuracy cannot be vouched for on account 

 of imperfect information." — Report of Commission into the Salmon Fisheries of England and Wales, 

 1860, p. xxxviii. 



t The names of the rivers are given, first with the dates as existing in 1860, and in brackets as 

 legal in 1885. 



} In 1860 it was found that no close season existed, or it had not been fixed in the Afon, 

 Derwent (Yorkshire), Longhor or Llwshur, Ouse (East Biding of Yorkshire), Parrett, Ehymnu, 

 Taff, Tavy (Devonshire), Tawe, Wyse, and Yealm. 



