13 



urgently demands the application of remedial measures, 

 Sec," proceeds. 



" As regards injuries to Fisheries resulting from the 

 pollution of the waters by noxious matters, we have 

 only to refer to the very excellent report of the Fishery 

 Commissioners of 1860, presented to Parliament in 1861, 

 for an exemplification of the manner in which valuable 

 Fisheries have been destroyed. 



" In that report it is shown that some rivers have 

 been so impregnated with deleterious matter, that 

 not a jish is to be found in them, whereas formerly 

 those rivers were well stocked with fish. It is also 

 shown in the same report, (page 20) that not only 

 have fish been destroyed, but that " Animals grazing 

 on the banks, cows, horses, pigs, and poultry have 

 been j^oisoned hy eating the grass which in times of 

 flood has been covered by the infected waters." 

 " "VVe do not wish to throw any obstacles in the way of 

 trade. But we desire that the most efficient means 

 should be provided for preventing injury to the public, 

 and damages to fisheries. 



" We are co7ifident that with care, and with compara- 

 tively small expense, the nuisances which the public and 

 the owners of fisheries so generally complain of may 

 he prevented. 



" Under the Gas Work Clauses Act, 1847, and under 

 the Public Health Act, 1858, proprietors of gas works 

 are subject to a penalty of 200/., and also to heavy 

 daily penalties, if they permit refuse from gas works to 

 flow into any stream. We think that the occupiers of 

 other works should also be liable to penalties to be 

 enforced in a summary manner for polluting public 

 streams and the loaters frequented by fish. If there 

 are any remedies under existing laws, those remedies 

 are so expensive, that few will encounter the costs, and 

 the promoters of nuisances relying upon this, go on 

 undisturbed, deriving benefit from the injury which 

 they infiict upon the public. 



" Such then beinar the state of the case, we entreat 

 your lordship to lose no time tfi proposDig such measures 

 as may seem best adapted to redress the injury com- 

 plained of, and to prevent the spread of this enormous 

 evil. Thousands of miles of streams which were de- 

 signed by Providence to minister to the wants and 

 necessities of man, give fertility to the earth, and 

 beauty to the landscape, are not only rendered useless. 



