SALMONS. 
237 
of Salmon are thus destroyed, especially in the 
secluded mountain streams ; detection is difficult, 
and conviction easily evaded. The depredations 
of poachers are largely connected with the demo- 
ralization of private distilling. The men are up 
all night attending to the still. The watch main- 
tained against the revenue officers enables them 
to ascertain also when the rivers are unguarded. 
The firebrand is snatched from the still-fire, the 
easily-hidden gaff or spear drawn from its corner, 
and in a few minutes the poacher has exchanged 
one species of lawless industry for another equally 
illicit. 
Mr. Lloyd describes a simple but effective mode 
of taking Salmon at Deje, in Sweden, where this 
fish is very abundant. By rocks or artificial em- 
bankments, a portion of the river is divided into 
several small channels. On each of these two 
sluices are constructed, one at each end, capable 
of being opened or closed at pleasure. The fish 
having once entered these traps, are prevented 
from returning, and the water being allowed to 
run off, they are taken out, even by hand, without 
the least difficulty. Five hundred, and even eight 
hundred Salmon are thus taken in a single day ; 
though at the same locality, notwithstanding their 
abundance, they invariably refuse a bait.'^ 
Many years ago, great quantities of Salmon 
were taken in the Thames ; but that species of 
sport has been annihilated, in all probability by 
the influx of poisonous ingredients which flow in 
from gas-works and other numerous modern in- 
novations, introduced during the last fifteen years. 
Among the enemies of the Salmon is the Eagle, 
* Field Sports, &c. i. 302. 
