THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 65 



the various claims of netting proprietors and anglers, 

 as the prosperity of our salmon fisheries, and the 

 increase or decrease of a most valuable article 

 of food depends in great measure upon the periods 

 fixed to suit each river. 



But no river would reap the benefit of an 

 extension of close time unless the stipulations were 

 more rigidly enforced than they are at present. 

 For instance, clean salmon are found during the 

 whole of the annual close season in many rivers, 

 and it is well known that consignments of them 

 are sent to the London and other markets during the 

 fence months. The fish are caught in the estu- 

 aries of rivers and on the adjacent coast by nets 

 ostensibly used for catching white fish. It is easy 

 enough to pack them in the ordinary boxes with 

 other fish, and, if I am rightly informed, no one 

 has the power to search or seize those boxes ; 

 therefore this illegal traffic in salmon is car- 

 ried on with impunity. Rhine salmon are 

 frequently imported into our English markets during 



