there for a moment, and then rose the salmon on to the bank; Mason was lying on the bank a little distance away from Lynch; when Lynch was trying to take out the spear, I said to him,' Leave that go;' Mason said, 'Don't do anything to the poor man now;' when I came close to Lynch he loosed the spear, and in doing so wrenched the head off the salmon; I am almost sure, but I cannot swear it, that he threw the spear into the river; Mason left the rod there, and I took it and the head of the salmon, which I put into my pocket; Lynch got the spear from Mason. Mr. Connor-Was the salmon taken in the fresh water part of the river? Witness-Yes. To Mr. Quill, J.P.-I do not know what they did with the salmon. Mr. Edward Rae-Did not they take it away? Witness-Oh, yes. To his Worship-The spear was screwed into the butt-end of the rod. Crossexamined by Mr. Downing-I am not sure what hour it was; I was two or three fields away from the appellants when I first saw them. Mr. Downing-Was there anything unusual in seeing two men walking up and down the bank of a river with a fishing-rod, especially when one of them was accustomed to angling on the river? Witness-No; if the rod was in fishing order; but it was tied up, as it is now; and when I saw Mason have it on the preceding day, I thought that there was something suspicious in having a rod without a wheel or a line. Some immaterial questions having been put to the witness as to the identity of the spear, Mr. Downing commenced to question him as to whether the portion of the river where the salmon was taken, was tidal or fresh water. Witness did not personally know the actual distance the tide went up the river. The salmon was killed between the Maine Bridge and Caherlahina Bridge. To Mr. ConnorHeard that a few people saw the tide come up to Scarravanina Bridge, but if it did so, it was at the highest tides. His Worship-Will you go further in this case Mr. Connor ? Mr. Connor-The witness is not personally aware of the tide even having come up to this place. Mr. E. Rae-I was examined by the Commissioners of Fisheries at Killarney, and stated that I considered the old weir to be the boundary of the tide. I do not know whether this salmon was caught above or below that place. Respondent-It was above the old weir that the fish was killed. His Worship-Well Mr. Downing, at the last moment you had the law in favour of your point. The conviction against James Lynch was declared reversed, and that against Alexander Mason, entirely depending on the other, met the same fate. This concluded the appeals."

[There can be little doubt that the decision quashing the conviction before the magistrates was correct. The Act 13 and 14 Vic., c. 88, sec. 40, prohibits the use of spears in fresh waters. Fresh waters have been defined by a legal decision to extend to the limit of the tidal flow including the water backed up by the incoming tide. The persons who drew the Act we have quoted were either not aware of the proper interpretation to be given to the term "fresh waters," or they did not anticipate the possibility of using a spear within tidal waters which from their generally discoloured character would effectually prevent poaching by such an instrument. The remedy for this "casus omissus" would be by application to the Special Commissioners who are empowered, 91 sec., 5 and 6 Vic., cap. 106. to make bye-laws prohibiting any practice which in their judgment is injurious to the fisheries and who have shown themselves at all times desirous to use their powers in the manner most beneficial to the fisheries under their charge.-ED.]

BRASS MINNOW.

SIR,-On reading the articles of "W. H. H.," in the FISHERMAN'S MAGAZINE, I see that he makes mention of a person in Builth who is a maker of brass minnows with burnished brass Archimedian paddles :-I shall take it as a great favour if he will be good enough to give a brother angler the name of the maker. BROWN MOTH.

The Editor of the FISHERMAN'S MAGAZINE.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

FISH-CULTURE.-MR. BUCKLAND.

The following are the numbers of salmon and trout eggs collected by Mr. Frank Buckland during the present season :—

No.

Salmon eggs, collected for Galway Fishery

265,000

وو

from the Usk for the Thames A. P. S. Trout eggs from Hampshire,—ditto

39,000

37,000

Of the last two spawnings Mr. Buckland has, with his usual liberality, distributed several consignments to gentlemen who have been disappointed in obtaining eggs for their apparatus.

THE RIVER USK ASSOCIATION.

(VISIT OF MR. FRANK BUCKLAND.)

The celebrated naturalist, Mr. Frank Buckland, has paid a visit to the Brecon district of the Usk Association, for the purpose of obtaining a quantity of salmon ova for his piscicultural experiments. He was accompanied by the lessees of the Wye fisheries, and, aided by Inspector Beswick and his force of waterbailiffs, he was soon enabled to set his nets. Having put a stop-net across the River Usk, another was drawn through about 150 yards of rough stream to meet it. Fortunately, there was a very large number of salmon spawning, and, at each successive haul, 7, 8, and 12 fish were landed, and for two hours Mr. Buckland and his assistants were as busy as possible in selecting the ripe fish, and in operating upon them. Some large fish were handled, one especially, a very fine female of 25lbs. weight, the average being from 8lbs. to 10lbs. Altogether, from 40 to 50 fish were landed, and about 50,000 ova obtained, which, after being duly impregnated, were safely stowed away in cans. All the fish were immediately returned to the river, and showed no signs of being the least hurt. Mr. Buckland expressed himself much gratified to find a river so well protected, and stated that the larger part of the ova were intended for the fish-hatching apparatus at Hampton for stocking the Thames; some for the Emperor of the French, who takes a lively interest in pisciculture; and some for his special apparatus in Kensington Gardens. The lessees of the Wye fisheries also took several thousand ova for the hatching-boxes at Dobdowlod, so that the breed of salmon in the Wye will receive an admixture from that of the Usk.-Sporting Life.

SALMON IN KENT.

A very fine salmon from 2 to 3 ft. in length was seen on Friday, in the stream of Dockuray Hall Mills. It was a female fish, and bore the marks of the severe efforts it had made in removing the matter necessary for depositing the ova securely in the bed of the river. This is an illustration of the utility of the Salmon Fisheries Act in the removal of obstructions.

ADDRESS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE SUIR PRESERVATION SOCIETY TO W. J. FFENNELL, ESQ., INSPECTOR OF FISHERIES, &c.

An address has been presented to Mr. Ffennell, Inspector of Fisheries, by the members of the Suir Preservation Society, expressing their gratitude to Mr. Ffennell for his exertions in the cause of the Irish salmon fisheries, and congratulations on the successful results obtained. It would be superfluous on our part to point out the nature of the services which Mr. Ffennell has rendered to Ireland in this matter. For upwards of twenty years he has stood forward boldly as the champion of sound fishing legislation in that country, never swerving from his principles-the soundness of which experience has amply proved-and carrying his object successfully through in the face of strenuous opposition, and sometimes even of personal unpopularity. As nobody has ever devoted his great abilities to the cause of fish legislation with more signal zeal and advantage than Mr. Ffennell, so no one has had opportunities of acquiring such a thorough and practical knowledge of the subject as he has, and we cordially concur with the Suir Preservation Society in their well-merited expressions of gratitude and confidence in their late Commissioner. The following is the text of the address:

"DEAR SIR, -The cause of the Salmon Fisheries of Ireland having obtained so signal a triumph in this district, we, the undersigned, members of the Suir Preservation Society, feeling, as we do, that you have so largely contributed to its success, consider no more appropriate season could be selected for the expression of our grateful feelings towards one, who, though now removed to another sphere, has continued to labour so abundantly with us all, and who has ever preserved so warm and unvarying a feeling of affectionate interest in all that concerns this locality.

"The zeal and ability you have ever displayed in everything connected with the fisheries of this country; the kindly, disinterested, and earnest manner in which you have brought these to bear upon the great question so recently at issue; the hearty and spirited encouragement you have never ceased to bestow on all who, like yourself, were labourers in the good cause; all you have said, all you have written, all you have done in its behalf, enable us truthfully to assert that the principles we have upheld had no warmer friend, no more zealous advocate, no more successful champion than William Joshua Ffennell.

"As the orignator of this successful agitation for our rights-as the able exponent of the nature of those rights, we shall be ever indebted to you-nor less deeply do we feel that, in the midst of your own varied and unceasing ayocations, the interests of this, your native country, were second to none.

66

Allow us finally, to express our hearty thanks to you for your most disinterested and successful exertions on behalf of the Salmon Fisheries of Ireland; and with every kindly wish for your welfare, to subscribe ourselves

"Ever faithfully yours,

'LISMORE, President.

"DONOUGHMORE, Vice-President, &c., &c."

STIRLING FISHINGS.

On Saturday last, the salmon fishings on the Rivers Forth and Teith, belonging to the town, were put up at 1,100l., and after a somewhat languid competition, knocked down to Messrs. Anderson and Sons, Edinburgh-the late lessees-at 1,300l., being the same rent as that paid under the last lease. The Longrack and Taylorton fishings, belonging to Allan's Hospital, were also knocked down to Messrs. Anderson, at 2507.-being an increase of 50l. as compared with the rent brought under last lease. The fishings are let for a period of five years.-Stirling Observer.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF OBJECTS CONNECTED WITH FISHERIES.

It is proposed by the municipal authorities of Bergen, with the assistance of the Norwegian Government, to hold this year an "International Exhibition of produce, instruments, and other objects connected with fisheries; " at which we trust that British tackle-makers, the first in the world, will not be unrepresented. The exhibition will be held at Bergen, in Norway, and will be open from August 1 next, to September 16.

The official programme states the object of this exhibition to be "to make generally known the various kinds of produces of fishing, and the means by which fisheries and the branches of industry connected with them are exercised in various countries."

A similar exhibition was held in Amsterdam in 1861, and, in accordance with the programme then adopted, the Bergen exhibition will include:

1. All fisheries in the sea, from the whale and seal fishery to the smallest fishery along the coast.

2. All fisheries in gulfs, bays, firths, and mouths of rivers.

3. All fisheries in lakes, large and small rivers, and canals.

4. The artificial increase of sea and river fish.

To illustrate these great divisions of piscatorial and piscicultural industry, the following classification of objects has been adopted:

a. All articles derived from fish, those used as victuals as well as those which are employed in agriculture, in fabrics, or by manual industry.

b. The instruments used in preparing the produces of fishing, as in the curing, salting, &c. the fish, or models of these instruments.

c. Models or designs of the buildings or implements in or about which the preparation is made, as smoking-houses, steam-cooking apparatus, instruments for drying the fish, &c.

d. The objects needed for the conservation of the fish, as salt, brine, &c.

e. The instruments for the expedition and preservation of the fish, as tons, baskets, boxes, &c.

f. The various ships and boats used by fishermen, with all their rigging, and also the various parts of the rigging separately.

g. Models of the objects named in f

h. All articles belonging to the outfit of a fishing ship or a fishing boat, as tons, baskets, and the objects to preserve the fish, the bait, &c.

i. All instruments used in taking fish in the widest sense, with the materials out of which these instruments are made, and those which are used in tanning the nets, or in any other way preserving the instruments used in the fishery.

k. The artificial bait with all that is needed for the preparation and preservation of natural bait.

7. Models of the rooms inhabited by fishermen in houses or ships on the fishing-places, garments, and provisions.

m. Popular writings concerning the fishing industry.

The following remarks on the position and fishing trade of Bergen, which we quote from the Field, may probably be of interest to our readers

"It may be useful to some of our readers to know that Bergen is one of the most ancient cities and ports in Norway, and that it is situate on the shore of the North Sea, about 61 degrees of north latitude. The usual route to it is we believe by Christiania, and so on, either by land or steamers, taking the west coast. There is also a steamer from Hull to Bergen every three weeks during summer, the fare three guineas. There can be no doubt that, during this exhibition, extraordinary facilities for transit will be offered, and it is evidently the intention and earnest hope of the Bergen committee to attract practical men, working fishermen, and others actually engaged upon the fisheries, to come to their gathering. The

British tackle-makers will be very unwise if they neglect this chance of obtaining a foreign trade.

'Bergen has a population of about 30,000 inhabitants. In addition to being one of the oldest cities in Norway, it was made by King Olaf Kejvre (in 1070) the second city of his dominions, and is now only second to Christiania. In trade it surpasses the capital, and one of the staples of its industry is the cod and stock-fish trade.

"The principal trade of Bergen at present is the export of stock-fish (dried cod), oil obtained from the livers of cod, and herrings. The take of fish on the west coast of Norway may be judged of by the fact that Bergen alone usually exports about 2,000,000 specie dollars' worth of stock-fish; 20,000 barrels of cod-fish oil, divided into first, second, and third qualities; and from 400,000 to 600,000 barrels of herrings, which are chiefly pickled. The stock-fish mostly goes to the ports of the Mediterranean, the herrings to the Baltic, and the codfish oil to all parts of Europe. The cod are usually very fat when caught; they are immediately gutted, and the livers thrown into barrels ; the oil which gradually rises to the surface is then skimmed off; this is of the first and purest quality and called 'blanc ;' it is used for lamp oil and dressing and currying leather, as well as medicinally for consumptive and scrofulous cases; the second and third qualities, brown blanc and brown, are obtained by boiling the refuse, and used exclusively for dressing and currying leather. In the months of March and April, when the large square-rigged yachts (jogts) laden with fish from Loffoden and Finmark arrive, the town presents a busy and animated appearance; the harbour is frequently crowded with from 600 to 700 vessels of 70 to 200 tons burden, besides larger foreign vessels waiting to receive their cargoes from them. There are two great arrivals of these joegts in Bergen, one in spring, another later in the summer, when 100 or more come in at a time.

"The following account of the fish-market (taken, with the preceding quotation, from Mr. Murray's very useful Knapsack Guide to Norway,' only recently published, and which every visitor to the Exhibition will do well to provide himself with) may interest the reader:

"The fish market is held there on Wednesdays and Fridays, and should be visited. In point of language it is quite equal to our Billingsgate. Fish forms the principal article of diet here in summer, and it is fine, abundant and cheap. Mackerel, three for an English penny, and a large halibut for 1s. 6d. In summer the port is usually crowded with vessels; there are generally two or three English yachts. The stock-fish boats from the N., before alluded to, are very quaint and picturesque; they will be readily distinguished by their high prows; the form of these vessels is of great antiquity. So prejudiced are the people who build and navigate these vessels, that they will not make the smallest alteration in their build or rig; they will not even avail themselves of the use of the windlass, and the huge square sail therefore still requires the same power to haul it to the mast-head as it did 1200 years since. They are clinker built, and with great breadth of beam, but are not adapted for sailing, except in smooth water. It has been erroneously stated that these jægts are perfect models of those used by the old Norsemen in their piratical voyages."

SALMO SALAR'S COMPLAINT.

Sir,-Your readiness to redress a wrong and expose an injustice has been long well known and appreciated by the dwellers on the banks of the Lune. Will you kindly extend your sympathy to the inhabitants of its waters, and allow me a corner in your Magazine to state my case.

I would have asked you personally the favour, but find it rather inconvenient to leave my present habitation, and, besides, have a natural dread of trusting myself into the hands of even the most honourable ichthyophagist. I have a friend hard by who has promised to plead my cause; but between you and me, Mr. Editor, I am afraid not quite disinterestedly, for with a long rod, a sound line, and a showy fly, he often takes in some one or other of my unwary brothers, and