THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 51 



tion of the Upper Heritors by shortening the 

 net season. What is really wanted, Mr. Dickson 

 asserts, is an extension of the weekly close time or 

 " Slap" as it is technically termed. 



If that were conceded, the fishing season might 

 then go on from January 15 to August 31. 

 To close the fishing season too early is to in- 

 crease unduly the number of old salmon, which 

 require thinning out as much at times as old grouse 

 or old stags. 



To close it too late is to reduce the old fish 

 so low in number, as to endanger the future supply 

 of young fish, and that would be doing more harm 

 than good. 



Success in breeding thus depends on maintaining, 

 under careful observation, a due proportion between 

 the number of fish and the natural capacity of the 

 spawning-ground. 



Mr. Dickson proposes that the weekly close 

 time should be extended to forty-eight hours. 

 Moreover he suggests that the season for the 



E 2 



