14 



in a public point of view to create so much dis- 

 cussion as has already 'taken place. In short, in 

 order that a few thousand more Salmon may be 

 brought to Billingsgate, (for this is all the public 

 ground that can be alleged), the Legislature is to be 

 petitioned to alter the whole Law as it regards the 

 Salmon Fishery. Not, be it observed, to change 

 some of the less material regulations, butto change 

 the fundamental principle. Permanent net fish- 

 ing, hitherto illegal throughout the whole kingdom, 

 according to the petitioners' request, should now 

 be rendered legal in Scotland alone. The mode 

 of fishing by coble and net. and all the river fish- 

 ings are to be considered of little or no importance, 

 and as a proper subject for a dashing experiment, 

 although standing on the faith of crown char- 

 ters, and a free gift of so much increase of income 

 as the different mode of fishing would amount to, 

 is to be made to the coast proprietors ; and although 

 this boon would be very well bestowed on the re- 

 spectable individuals and powerful bodies, so much 

 interested, it is no national benefit, if it is obtained 

 by the violation of the paramount considerations 

 of justice and equity. 



In page (20) of the Pamphlet, an attempt is 

 made to prove that the Salmon is properly a sea 

 fish ; and that from ignorance of this new disco- 

 very of natural history, the old laws were neces- 

 sarily absurd. I cannot conceive any thing less 

 important in this question, than to enter into any 



