54 
Notwithstanding this last drawback, it is very probable that, 
were arrangements introduced similar to those in England and 
Ireland, the system of Fishery Boards in Scotland might be con- 
tinued, and steps taken to extend them. Especially is it desirable 
to adopt some other plan of raising funds than by obliging the 
members of Fishery Boards to assess themselves and their neigh- 
bours. It is scarcely reasonable to expect, that proprietors of 
fishings, especially when their fishery rental is small, will volun- 
tarily constitute a Board, whose proceedings would involve the 
members, not only in the expense of employing watchers, but in 
legal proceedings for removing obstructions, stopping pollu- 
tions, &c. 
The aversion to such self-imposed assessments is all the more 
natural, when it is remembered how heavily taxed all subjects 
entered in the valuation rolls of Scotch counties are, for police, 
prisons, lunatic asylums, poor rates, schools, &c. &c. 
Another valuable suggestion may be obtained, from the mode 
of constituting the Boards of Conservators in England. ‘There 
the Boards include three classes of persons: first, owners or 
tenants of fisheries in the district, not below a certain yearly 
value or river frontage; second, persons selected by the Justices 
in Quarter Sessions, the number being previously determined by 
the Home Secretary; and, third, persons selected by those holding 
licences for fishing in the district, the number depending on the 
money value of the licences. In Scotland, under the Salmon 
Acts, the Fishery Boards consist entirely of proprietors, in 
respect merely of being connected with those parts of the river 
which put them into antagonism with one another. In England, 
whilst some of the members are on the Board in respect of 
being owners or occupiers of fishings above a certain standard, 
the majority of the members are elected and selected with no 
other qualification except fitness for the duty, in the opinion of 
those appointed by law as thought competent to judge. 
The constitution of the English Fishery Boards is therefore, in 
principle, greatly superior to that of the Scotch Boards; and in 
any future legislation for Scotland, this point should be kept in view. 
Above all, there should be for Scotland an appointment of 
