An enclosure for a smelt spout of a chemical recovery boiler comprises a skirt having a central region through which smelt flowing from the smelt spout falls into a dissolving tank. The central region is defined by a wall and has a trough disposed around its perimeter. The trough is supplied with a fluid that overflows the trough and flows downward across the wall toward the dissolving tank to clean and cool the skirt. The trough may have a depth substantially equal to the height of the skirt, and the fluid may include at least one of: water, weak wash, and green liquor. Water may be periodically supplied to the trough in lieu of the fluid to clean the trough. A nozzle system is configures to direct at least one shatter jet onto the smelt flowing from the smelt spout to break it up into smaller particles.