230 THE SALMON 



impossible, within the limits of this chapter, to inquire 

 at any length into the reason for this mass of legisla- 

 tion upon this one particular subject. Briefly stated, 

 it was the decline of the salmon fisheries throughout 

 the United Kingdom, due to the increase of pollu- 

 tions and obstructions such as weirs, mill-dams, 

 or nets ; the abstraction of water for waterworks, 

 factories, and other purposes ; and the inefficiency 

 and evasion of the laws then in force. The increase 

 of rod and line fishing for salmon as a sport during 

 the present century may also have directed attention 

 to the subject, and been the cause of a good deal of 

 legislation which would not otherwise have been 

 passed had the sport not attained to that prominent 

 position which it now holds. 



The Act of 1 86 1 in England, founded upon the 

 report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into 

 the salmon fisheries of England and Wales in i860, 

 repealed, in whole or in part, thirty-three Acts of 

 Parliament then in force, and placed the superinten- 

 dence of the salmon fisheries in those countries under 

 the Home Office, with power to appoint two inspec- 

 tors for a period of three years. This superintendence 

 is now transferred to the department of the Board of 

 Trade, in accordance with the report of the select 

 committee of the House of Commons appointed in 



