The rules as to fixed engines, bag nets, and weirs are much the same as those in England. No fixed engine that was not in use in 1862, and no bag net not in use in July 1863, can be legally used. All fishing weirs must have free gaps. Taking salmon except with rod and line in mill pools or mill races is made illegal. Night netting-that is, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.-for salmon or trout is illegal. A very important provision that does not exist in English law is the prohibition of netting for salmon and trout in all inland waters except by the owner of the fishery. The close season, unless varied, begins on the 15th September, and must last 168 days. But there is power to fix when these 168 days shall begin and end. For angling for salmon and trout the statutory close time is from the 1st March to 1st February. For trout fishing other than angling, from 29th September to the last of February. For eels the close time is 10th January to 1st July. There is not in Ireland any penalty for fishing on Sunday with a rod and line during the open season. In Ireland the weekly close time extends not only to salmon but also to trout. As to dealing with poachers, the Irish law is much the same as the English, the Larceny Act, 1861, applying to Ireland. An Irish Act makes entering on lands for the purpose of, or under pretence of, fishing without the written leave of the owner or occupier an offence, and also resisting or obstructing persons lawfully engaged in fishing, proceeding to fish, or returning from fishing, or placing nets or engines to prevent fish entering the nets of persons set or placed legally. The powers of the English Game Act, 1 and 2 Will. IV. c. 32, sec. 31, as to offenders being obliged to give their names and addresses, and the power of arrest similar to those under the Night Poaching Act, 9 Geo. IV. c. 69, sec. 7, are practically extended to fishing by the Irish Acts.

Although in the main the Irish law is the same as the English, there are considerable differences in points of detail, so it is not safe to assume that what is a breach of the law in one country is a breach in the other. It must also be further borne in mind that there are numerous local alterations by by-laws of the Irish statute law, and it is not safe to assume that the law in any particular place is the law as it appears even in the Irish statutes without an up-to-date inquiry at the office of the Clerk of the Peace of the county where any breach of the law is supposed to have occurred.