Madam, - The well-kept homes on Arranmore Island, Co Donegal, have always reflected the importance of salmon fishing to that community - even more than for other salmon-fishing areas around our coast.
However, now that a ban on netting has been introduced the island's economic future is certainly in doubt, as described on page 2 of your issue of September 3rd.
In reports before the ban was introduced the fact of the obviously changing climate was not stressed as a reason for reduced salmon stocks entering our waters. Fish are extremely sensitive to water temperatures and navigate by temperature-defined streams in the ocean, now strongly influenced by warming Arctic waters.
Nor was the fact that the world glut of farmed salmon was reducing the price of wild fish to the extent that some netsmen did not renew expensive worn-out gear: fish from Canadian farms is sold here as "Irish-Smoked Salmon".
While anglers are now restricted in selling their catches, a watch must be kept that hotels stop an old practice of taking in salmon in part payment of accommodation bills. - Yours, etc,
ARTHUR REYNOLDS,
Seapoint Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.