248 THE SALMON 



or else requires a prescriptive possession of cruive- 

 fishing following upon a general grant. The legal 

 use of cruives by various statutes is permitted in, but 

 limited to, that part of the river which is above the 

 tide-way — ' All cruives and yairs (weirs) set in wateris 

 quhair the sea fillis and ebbis be put away and 

 destroyed for ever mair.' Cruives had also, from early 

 days, to comply with certain conditions whereby 

 smolts and fry should not be taken in them. ' It was 

 Statute and ordanit be King Alexander at Perth, on 

 Thursday before the feist of St. Margaret, with consent 

 of the Erlis, Baronis, and Judges of Scotland, that the 

 midst of the water should be fre, sa mekill than ane 

 swine of three zeir auld and well fed is of length and 

 may turn him within it in sic manner that nather 

 his grunzie nor his tail tuich any of the sides of the 

 cruives that are biggit on each side of the water.' 

 The Commissioners for Scotland, in accordance with 

 their powers, have in more recent times, by a bye-law 

 dated July 28, 1865, m ade certain regulations with 

 regard to cruives. 



The law in Ireland has undergone some changes 

 with regard to fixed engines in tidal waters in modern 

 times. As defined by the Act of 1850, the)' are 

 practically the same as those included in the defini- 

 tions under the English law. By the Act of 1842 the 



