SALMON— MEANS OF CAPTURE— FISHERMEN. 135 



There are several improvements very much needed in the Irish Fishery laws,* 

 and the modes in which they are carried out, but respecting which readers must 

 be referred to treatises on the subject, the annual reports of Fishery Commissioners, 

 and the evidence in Blue Books. The weekly close time for nets in that 

 country was fixed in 1863 at forty-eight hours, commencing 6 a.m. on Saturday 

 and continuing until 6 a.m. on Monday, while the close season extended for 

 168 days. But as regards this annual close time for netting, the periods of their 

 incidence are so varied, and the changes so constant, that no good could be attained 

 in detailing the rules at force in different localities ; speaking generally it covers 

 the last three months of the year in most rivers, and even four-and-a-half in some. 

 While angling with cross-lines, elsewhere poaching, as a rule has a similar close 

 tinie to netting : and the open season for angling with a single rod and line varies 

 in its commencement from February 1st to the beginning of June. 



As regards the means of capture employed for the taking of salmon within the 

 limits of the British Isles, those which are legalized may be classed under three 

 heads : — (1) Such as are carried on in fresh waters above tidal influence : (2) in 

 estuaries and tidal portions of rivers : and (3) those in the open sea or along the 

 foreshore of the ocean. This may be accomplished by angling in various ways : 

 by fixed modes of capture as weirs, puts and putohers, and stationary nets : or by 

 drift-nets, set- or hang-nets, draught or seine-nets, and hand-nets. 



The estimated number of salmon fishermen in England and Wales, as shown 

 by the actual amount raised in licence duties on instruments used for their 

 capture, was given in 1867 at 3029 net fishermen, and 2350 rod fishermen ; these 

 have steadily increased until in 1885 there were 8747 of the former, and 4774 of 

 the latter.t 



In Ireland, in 1863, there were 9774 persons engaged in salmon fishing. 

 During the quinquennial period ending 1868, they averaged yearly, 10,679; 

 during that ending 1873, 10,336; that ending 1878, 11,570; that ending 1883, 

 11,596. In 1884 the number of licensed persons employed were — rod fishing, 

 2460; cross-lines, 226 ; pollen trammels, 232 ; salmon nets or traps, 9191; or a 

 general total of 12,109 individuals. 



Some experiments were made in Ireland, as remarked upon iu the Dublin 

 University 'Review, November, 1851, in order to ascertain the size of the members 



of such .rivers aa are now unpreserved, and make them, as they formerly were, nurseries for 

 salmon. To provide for this outlay, they should have power witlun their own boundaries to fix 

 the tariff of licences, and, in case these did not produce sufficient funds, to lay a supplementary 

 tax on every fishery according to its value, and until something of this sort is done, not 

 only will there be no improvement, but, on the contrary, many more of the small rivers will cease 

 to be protected at all. There is much more of a ' solidarity ' of interests between all the rivers 

 of a district, in fact of the entire coast, than is generally supposed. That a certain number of the 

 salmon bred in a particular river will return to it in grilse or salmon state is quite true, but every 

 year brings proof that many of them wander very far, and at all events a much larger number 

 would be found along the shores by the drift and draft-net fishers, who should be called upon to 

 pay something towards their preservation " (W. Sinclair, Field, September 30th, 1884). 



* In the Proceedings of a Committee of the House of Commons in May, 1885, respecting a 

 proposed new Irish Fishery Bill, Mr. Harris remarked, when giving evidence, that the owner of a 

 several fishery could in some places prevent a single fish from passing up to the spawning beds. 

 These rights were beginning to operate on the Shannon. The public did not altogether realize 

 the change that was gradually depriving them of the rights which they used to enjoy. Draught- 

 net fishing on the Shannon lakes was a legitimate mode of fishing, because they could not fish 

 all the waters. Where a man owned both banks of the river he could starve out all who were 

 above him. There would be no chance of a fish getting up except in the close season, or at night- 

 time, and night-time was the favourite time for poaching, so that with draught-nets, the Lax 

 Weir, and poaching, the Shannon salmon fishery would be ruined. Several draught-nets had 

 been introduced in the last four or five years, and day after day the fishery was becoming 

 reduced." Also Major Hayes concluded his report for 1884, respecting the penalty for wilfully 

 taking, killing, destroying, exposing for sale, or having in possession any red, black, foul, unclean, 

 or unseasonable salmon or trout. That "it is understood that spent fish, viz., fish which have 

 recently spawned, would come under the head of unseasonable salmon, but it is most difficult 

 to secure convictions for killing or having them in possession, some magistrates requiring 

 evidence that such fish are unwholesome and unfit for food," so vast quantities are killed with 

 impunity. 



t These are exclusive of men employed under the holders of " general licences." 



