Grievous complaints are now making of the scarcity of salmon, and
consequently of the depressed state of the salmon fisheries, both in
Scotland and Ireland. As the statistics of the produce of the principal
rivers of those countries for some years past are known, it would be
curious to contrast their returns in the present century with any
accounts which may exist of their produce in former times.
For example, the Earl of Strafford wrote, in 1638, that the fishery at
Derry produced to the crown that year 240 tons of salmon, which sold at
15_l._ per ton. In 1845 the seven years average of the Foyle (Derry) was
140 tons, and the price ranged at about 100_l._ per ton. Pennant states
that as much as 320 tons were taken in the Bann in 1760; and Stanihurst,
writing about the year 1584, declares that the fishermen of Lough Neagh,
and of the "noble northerne river, the Banne, complain more often for
bursting of their nets with the over great take of fish, than for anie
want," so that the Irish grievance of that day lay in the very glut of
the commodity.
The famous "salmon-leap" at Ballyshannon, on the Erne, was formerly very
productive. It belonged to the O'Donels, Lords of Tyrconnel. Sir George
Carew, in a MS. pedigree of that family, observes that
"O'Donell is the best lorde of fishe in Ireland, and exchangeth
fishe allwayes with foreign merchants for wyne, by which his call
in other countryes the kinge of fishe."
In Roman Catholic times our national salmon fisheries were of much
value, for they supplied an article of food which was necessary for fast
days; there are, accordingly, many ancient acts of parliament in the
statute books for the preservation of the salmon, and still more in the
Scotch statutes, in one of which, indeed, a jubilee was ordained for the
benefit of the finny tribe, by making it penal to take any salmon for
the space of three years. Not only did private and religious houses rely
upon a supply of salted fish for fast days, and for the winter's
consumption, but armies at that time could not be marched or subsisted
without them. There is in Rymer an order of Edward II. to provide 3000
dried salmon for this very purpose.
All our mouths water at hearing of "kippered salmon," especially at
breakfast-time; but it seems from old Izaak Walton's use of the word
that the origin of the delicacy is not the very best, for he uses the
word as expressive of a "sprat," or spawned cock-salmon, _out of
season_, and it is verily to be believed that the dainty is produced by
preserving the fish when in a state that it could not be eaten if fresh.
Travellers in the colder latitudes of the new and old world, agree in
representing the rivers of those countries as literally swarming with
noble salmon. The increase of man, and the advances of civilisation,
have led to the decrease of salmon in the British Islands, and this fish
will probably, in a century or so more, rank among other exterminated
animals, as the bustard, &c.
Any of your readers would oblige me by reference to authorities in which
statements may be found as to the ancient productiveness of the salmon
fisheries of Great Britain and Ireland; in fact, to any information or
curious details on the subject.