100 THE FISHERIES, 



But let us not be severe on that Board. On its 

 chairman, in the highest assembly in the world, a 

 high eulogium has but recently been pronounced ; 

 and every member of the Board, is entitled, we be- 

 hove, to unquahfied respect — but we stop there. 

 Their mal-administration and mismanagement of the 

 fisheries we have always unflinchingly exposed, and 

 submitted to the public gaze. We had the most co- 

 gent reasons for doing so. We saw the Salmon- 

 fisheries declining from year to year, from the mis- 

 management of the Board. Had evidence of our 

 assertions been necessary, we might, amongst other 

 proofs, have submitted in testimony against them, 

 their own annual reports to Parliament. These 

 pubhshed records, although entombed in blue books, 

 go directly to the point at issue. — Without assigning 

 any sufficient cause, these reports, taken separately 

 or collectively, just amount to this, that from the 

 appointment of the Board, in 1842, down to the pre- 

 sent day, the fisheries have been going from bad to 

 worse. 



Still we would not denv to the Board some de- 

 gree of anxiety properly to fulfil their trust; but the 

 difficulty interposed by the want of adequate know- 

 ledge on their part, was not to be overcome ; they 



lutely necessary to their due administration, that it be confided to 

 a separate department of the executive Government (not connected 

 with the Board of Worlis,) and that adequate means ought to be 

 immediately provided for that purpose,'' — Beport of Select Com- 

 7nittee of House q/ Commons, la49. 



