51 



men and gentlemen from all parts of the kingdom, inte- 

 rested in the fisheries as conservators, proprietors. Sec. 

 Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole, the 

 Inspectors of Salmon Fisheries for England and Wales, 

 also attended it, as did Major Scott and Captain Spratt, 

 the Special Commissioners of Fisheries, the President 

 (Lord de Blaquiere), and various members of the Council 

 of the Fisheries^ Preservation Association being likewise 

 present and taking active part in the proceedings. 



The subject of the pollution of rivers and its destruc- 

 tive effect on the public health and on the fish, and the 

 inefficacy of existing laws to meet the grievance having 

 been very largely dwelt upon by the Chairman, (Lord 

 Percy), and by every speaker who took part in the dis- 

 cussion, the following resolution was moved by Mr. 

 Higford Burr (one of the Council of the Fisheries Preser- 

 vation Association) and carried unanimously : — 



" That as various rivers are seriously injured both by 

 " liquid and solid poisonous matters, and as it is neces- 

 " sary for the public health and supply of food for the 

 " people, that the pollutions should be prevented, further 

 " legislation is urgently needed." 



On the 6th of the following August another deputation 

 from the Fisheries Preservation Association, including 

 Lord Northwick and other influential persons, members 

 of Parliament and others, waited on Mr. Gathorne Hardy, 

 the Secretary of State, and again earnestly pressed on the 

 attention of Government, the absolute necessity that 

 existed of putting a stop to the pollution of the rivers 

 by some effectual measure to be introduced by the Go- 

 vernment. AVhereupon the deputation had the satis- 

 faction of receiving from the Home Secretary the 

 assurance " that he did not intend to continue the investi- 

 '[ gation, as he believed the experience gained by the 

 " inquiries into a few rivers would govern the whole. 



Unanimous 

 Resolution 

 passed that 

 further legis- 

 lation is ur- 

 gently needed 

 to prevent 

 pollutions. 



6th August, 

 1867. 



Deputation 

 from Fisher- 

 ies Preserva- 

 tion Associa- 

 tion to the 

 Home Secre- 

 tary. 



Declaration 

 of Home Se- 

 cretary, &c. 

 [The Field 

 Keport, 10th 

 Aug., 1867. 



