21 6 STATUTE LAWS RELATING TO 



an end to their office altogether ; for there is 

 hardly any fishery that is not within some manor. 

 As we recognize the maxim of salus populi, I trust 

 this will appear reasonable and proper. 



Having now gone through all the general laws 

 relating to the salmon fishery, and made a few 

 remarks on the local act of the 43 Geo. III., it must 

 appear evident to everyone, that though by an ener- 

 getic exertion to carry those laws into execution 

 by aid of a public association, a great deal of good 

 might arise ; yet, as they now stand, neglected and 

 unenforced, and the right of the public imperfectly 

 ascertained, it is no wonder that salmon are as 

 scarce and as dear as we find them. To make the 

 laws as complete as the nature of the thing will 

 admit, it is absolutely necessary that a new act 

 should be passed, embracing the whole subject 

 altogether, repealing the general act of the 58th of 

 the late king, and the local act for the Dart, Plym, 

 and Teign, and all local acts whatever. As the 

 law of nature is the same at all places, so ought to 

 be the law of the land to give nature proper ef- 

 fect. The whole law upon the subject, then, might 

 be brought under one view, and comprised in one 

 act, without perplexing the magistrate in making 

 him turn to different acts, and find out what he 

 wants by piece-meal, running the risk of frustrat- 

 ing the administration of justice, by quashing a con- 

 viction, or entangling him in frivolous minutiae. 

 To shew in a most striking manner the inapplica- 

 bility of the present law, we need only look back 



