APPENDIX B. 



Since the foregoing pages were written the Local Govern- 

 ment Act, 1888, has come into force, conferring upon 

 the County Councils a certain control over our English 

 and Welsh fisheries. It appears that County Councils 

 are enabled to appoint conservators other than ex-officio 

 members who have power to make bye-lav/s. Herein, 

 I am convinced, the Legislature have made a most serious 

 mistake. For what does this mean ? It means simply 

 this : that with the exception of ex-officio members, who 

 will be a minority at board meetings, conservators will be 

 appointed who know nothing about salmon fisheries and 

 probably care less, and who therefore are scarcely 

 qualified to watch over the interests of the rivers that lie 

 wholly or partially within their jurisdiction. Indeed, in 

 the present reign of political doctrinaires, there will be no 

 lack of councillors who would like nothing better than to 

 hand over private rights of fishing to the general public. 

 Nor can we hope from the constitution of these councils 

 that sound economic considerations will prevail to save us 

 from the risk of interested alterations in the annual and 

 weekly close times, such as must bring in their train 

 disastrous consequences for our English and Welsh 

 salmon fisheries. Before the passing of the Local 



