FUTURE SALMON LEGISLATION. 205 



It is encouraging to perceive (though, as we shall 

 see, there are local cases to the contrary) that some at 

 least of the leaders in the causes both of Sanitaryism and 

 of Fishery Preservation are awaking to the propriety and 

 importance of making common cause in this matter. 

 Lords Ebury and Shaftesbury, " on behalf of the sanitary 

 associations of Great Britain," lia^'e united with Lord 

 Saltoun, the President, and Lord Llanover, the Vice- 

 President, of the Fisheries Preservation Association, in 

 addressing a statement to Lord Palmerston, in which 

 they set forth the magnitude to which the evils have 

 attained, and the necessity for immediate legislation, 

 directed to preserving alike the health of men and the 

 lives of fish. 



That the pollution of the rivers of the country is so 

 great and general as to have become a national evil, was 

 the conclusion arrived at several years ago by the Royal 

 Commissioners on the Sewage of Towns, — a conclusion 

 arrived at without any reference to the interests of the 

 fisheries, but solely with a view to the public comfort 

 and health ; and when the interests of the fisheries are 

 also taken into consideration, the evil appears still greater 

 and still more truly national. This evil may be regarded 

 as presenting itself in two forms : in some instances, 

 inland towns send their impurities through far-stretching 

 rural districts ; in others, the villages and manufactories 

 on a river send down stench and pestilence on great seats 

 of population below. The great and unpleasant question 

 whether it is necessary or endurable that all the rivers 

 of the country should be transformed into common 

 sewers, has been raised earliest and as yet chiefly in the 



