EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
CRUELTY IN SPORT.—Mr. Cecil R. Bates writes :—While waiting for the night train to Scotland, going on a holiday which will be spent in seeking to lure Salmo Saler to attack my fly, I saw Dr. Hayward's letter on the subject of sport and its cruelty. I regret to say that I have not thought fit to abandon my holiday and return home. In this decision I am influenced by two statements of your correspondent, which he seems to lay down as axioms. I refer to the fish and the hare. One of these statements is obviously, and the other probably, incorrect. I have never yet heard or read that the hare lives underground like the rabbit, while the salmon is believed by most scientists who have studied the question to be incapable of really feeding in fresh water prior to spawning, owing to certain physical changes connected with the repro- duction of its species. The salmon, therefore, does not come again at one's fly after being struck because he feels the need of food, while the hare would not have the inclination to starve below ground sooner than face the chance of being hunted. I am aware that some people may reply regarding the salmon, " Why, then, does he take a bait such as a prawn, minnow or worm " ? The answer is : " No one knows, but the fact remains that no unspawned salmon has been caught with food in his stomach."
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