REASONS FOE THE DECREASE OF SALMOK. 285 



part of the watery creation prey upon its spawn and fry, 

 that barely one solitary ova in every thousand deposited 

 produces a full-grown salmon. Were this not the case, 

 of course a dozen pairs of fish would stock a river ; as it 

 is, hundreds are required. 



Salmon run up at all periods of the year : even in 

 December, clean fish are often found running into un- 

 obstructed rivers. Every salmon in the sea would enter 

 some river or other if not prevented, and when once in 

 the river, he becomes an easy, nay a certain, prey to the 

 nets or cruives. The earlier fish, usually called spring- 

 fish, or those which run into the rivers in January, 

 February, and March, are by far the most valuable to 

 the rivers, and for the following reasons : Being early 

 spawners, their progeny in turn become early fish, and in 

 the early months of the year salmon is scarce, and fetches 

 a very high price. They are, too, usually large fish : 

 added to this, the weather being cold, salmon will travel 

 farther, and will keep longer, and remain altogether in 

 better condition. These facts show that particular atten- 

 tion should be shown to these fish, and that their breed 

 should be encouraged as much as possible. This can 

 only be done by allowing the earliest fish to run up free, 

 by opening the fishing at the mouths of rivers somewhat 

 later than usual But the very facts above detailed afford 

 also the cause of these fish being much more keenly 

 sought after ; and the result of this keenness is that in 

 many rivers where they formerly abounded they are 

 become extinct, while in others they struggle up few and 

 far between, and hold but a doubtful existence at the best. 



