' streams running into or communicating with the same/ 

 It proceeds on the preamble, that ' the preservation and 



* improvement of the salmon-fisheries in the river Tay, and 



* the rivers and streams running into and communicating 



* with the same, is an object of great importance to the 



* owners thereof, and also to the public, as forming a con- 



* siderable branch of commerce." 1 And there is no room 

 for doubt as to the truth of what is here stated. The 

 public is deeply interested ; more so, perhaps, than the 

 promoters of this measure would, in sober earnest, be in- 

 clined to acknowledge. But it is not by such a Bill as 

 the present, that the public interest is to be provided for ; 

 as will be evident from a short consideration of the two 

 principal branches of it. 



Thejrs provision of the Bill, and, indeed, what is 

 held out to be its chief object, is an alteration of the fish- 

 ing season and close time. Here there was room for a 

 substantial benefit being conferred on the public, had the 

 proper disposition existed. Under the present regula- 

 tions applicable to the Tay, the fishing season ends, and 

 close time begins, on 26th August yearly ; and the close 

 time ends, and the fishing season recommences on 10th 

 December following. But it has been shewn in the fore- 

 going pages, that the close time, in place of ending on 

 10th December, ought to be continued until the Spring is 

 considerably advanced : and had the promoters of the 

 Bill proposed an alteration to that effect, the measure 

 might, indeed, have been * of great importance to the 



* public.' What they are understood to propose, how- 

 ever, is, that the close time shall be extended only to 5th 

 January,- an extension altogether without value, inas- 

 much as, during the short interval which it embraces, 

 scarcely one wholesome or marketable fish can be got. 



