CHAPTER VIL 



THE ECONOMY OF A SALMON EIVER. 



The Salmon as an article of Commerce- — Fecmidity of the Fish — Mr. 

 Stoddart's Calculations — Dangers of Over-fishing — Growth of our 

 Salmon-Fisheries — The Golden Age of the Fisheries — Grilse-Killing — 

 The River Tay : Statistics of its Produce — The English Salmon- 

 Fisheries — Upper and Lower Proprietors. 



Leaving the salmon as an object of natural history, I 

 now look at it as an article of commerce. The " breeches-pocket" 

 view of the question some years ago became of considerable im- 

 portance, in consequence of failing supplies ; for the commerce 

 carried on in this particular fish is very large ; and although our 

 salmon-fisheries are not nearly equal in value to the herring and 

 white fisheries, still the individual salmon is our most tangible 

 fish, and brings to its owner a larger sum of money than any 

 other member of the fish family. Indeed, of late years this 

 " monarch of the brook " has become emphatically the rich 

 man's fish ; its price for table purposes, at certain seasons of 

 the year, being only compatible with a large income ; and liberty 

 to ply one's rod on a salmon river is a privilege paid for at a 

 high figure per annum. Such facts at once elevate Sahno salar 

 to the highest regions of luxury : certainly, salmon can no longer 

 find a place on the tables of the poor ; for we shall never again 

 hear of its selling at twopence per pound weight, or of farm 

 servants bargaining not to be compelled to eat it oftener than 

 twice a week. 



At every stage of its career the salmon is surrounded by 

 enemies. At the very moment of spawning, the female is 

 watched by a horde of devourers, who instinctively flock to the 

 breeding-grounds in order to feast on the ova. The hungry pike, 

 the lethargic perch, the greedy trout, the very salmon itself, are 

 lying in wait, all agape for the palatable roe, and greedily swallow- 



