S41 
and oh the Satmon-Fisheries. 
tides (iid not even approach the highest stake-net, namely, Seaside and Birk- 
hill ; when the spring-tides became high, the fish came up to these nets, and 
were taken ; but when the tide fell off agaiiij the nets on the lower parts of 
the frith, on Mr Dalgliesh and Mr Maule’s properties^ caught a great deal 
more fish at that particular time of the tide, when the fish did not float up so 
high as the upper stake-nets;” p. 72. In conformity with this statement, J. 
Proudfoot declares, that, “ in rainy seasons, in heavy speats, the upper fish- 
eries (in the river) give more fish in proportion when the river is high than 
when it is little p. 26* 
The fish which enter rivers in the spring and summer months, have roe, 
but in May, for example, it is very small. As the season advances, the roe and 
milt are found in a riper state, until the time of spawning ; but in these re- 
spects, there are individual differences. Now, since salmon enter rivers months 
before they be ready for spawning, Do they remain in the river until that pe- 
riod, or do they occasionally return to the sea ? On this subject the Commit- 
tee seem to have bestowed considerable attention. The opinions of the wit- 
nesses, however, are at variance. In reference to the fish on the shore and 
in estuaries, Mr Wilson declares, “ I believe they all go up those rivers ; they 
are upon the shore, and get up the river if they can p. 14. Several of the 
other witnesses give it as their opinion, that salmon, before the spawning sea- 
son, enter the rivers, and return again to the sea, influenced by very diffe- 
rent instincts from those of spawning. The following proofs are offered. 
1. It is asserted that salmon remaining a short time in fresh-water^ become weak^ 
and return to the sea to be recruited. — It is stated by some of the witnesses, that 
salmon are fattest at a particular season, Mr Little says, “ In the month of 
May I consider they are as good and as perfect as at any one season of the 
jmar. From the month of May, they are gradually growing worse till they 
begin to deposit their spawn in the month of November;” p. 114. Mr Wilson 
reckons “ salmon is at its best at midsummer, and falls greatly off after about 
the middle of July;” p. 12. Mr Johnstone considers “ May and June as the 
period of their greatest perfection ;” but he adds, “ there maybe equal to three 
months difference between the quality of fish ;” p. 56. Mr Bell, on the other 
hand, declares, “ that the fish is full as good on the 10th December in the Tay 
as at any other time of the year ;” and “ the Tweed fish is good in August ; 
that is their best season ;” p. 21. Mr P. J. Proudfoot says, in reference to the 
Tay, “ there is a great deal of good fish killed by the time we commence the 
season,” (on 10th December) ; p. 27. These opinions are of less value than 
those now to be stated respecting the relative qualities of sea and river fish. 
Mr Wilson decidedly declares, that there is no difference in the quality of sal- 
mon taken at different parts of the same river, or in the tideway, or in the 
sea adjoining, during the proper season ; p. 13. On the other hand, Mr John- 
stone says, “ the salmon caught in the sea, and nearest to the sea, are gene- 
rally the richest.” When they have been some days in the water, “ they lose 
their bright colour,” — “ their firm state ; the fish gets longer in proportion 
to its thickness, and loses its weight.” — If he is not many days in the water, 
if he is caught immediately out of the sea, I do not see he can be any worse 
p. 50. “ A few weeks would make him a great deal worse ;” p. 53. Mr Hal- 
liday states, that those that had been long in fresh water “ were very muck 
VOL. XII. NO. ^4. APRIL 1825, Z 
