THE SALMON AND CHANNEL FISHERIES. 215 



private interest is to be promoted, or passion to be 

 gratified. The office of conservator is of a public 

 nature ; its duty is to see that there is no infrac- 

 tion of the laws, nor prosecution of private advan- 

 tage, beyond what is compatible with an observance 

 of them. Suppose the lord of a manor, through 

 whose extensive rights a river runs particularly 

 favourable to the breed of salmon, should neglect 

 or refuse to appoint any conservators to protect 

 such salmon ; suppose he should appoint an im- 

 proper person, who either connived at the mal- 

 practices of others, or, perhaps, was an associate 

 and co-operator with the offenders ; suppose he 

 should not disapprove of the spearing of salmon, 

 from motives which we will not investigate ; sup- 

 pose he should threaten an action against the 

 county conservator for coming within his manor to 

 see the laws respected ; — and this latter supposi- 

 tion is the fact to which I allude ; — then, I say, that 

 under such circumstances it is but reasonable that 

 the sessions should have a concurrent power to ap- 

 point county and general conservators, if the lord of 

 a manor appoint improper persons ; and a control- 

 ling power, if he should appoint none, to see the law 

 properly executed. Perhaps the magistrates at large 

 may have this concurrent power, under the statutesof 

 Edward and Richard, if they would but exercise it. 

 No harm, however, can arise from expressly stating 

 in the new act what ought to be done, if such act is 

 ever passed. Besides, if conservators be to be ex- 

 cluded from entering manors, there is pretty nearly 



