22 



bate. On scarcely any one particular is the testimony concur- 

 rent and unanimous ; insomuch, that fixed bases for legislation 

 can only, if at all, be attained, by a lengthy and philosophical 

 course of independent investigations." 



After this exposition of the varied interests of proprietors 

 involved in the property of a river fishery, but which fails to 

 notice that in many rivers public rights also clash with them, 

 and this expression of opinion as to the only mode of arriving 

 at fair conclusions, the Commissioners state that they had not 

 found leisure for such an examination, the subject of which, 

 both in its relations to private property, and to the interest of 

 the public in a maximum supply of fish, they considered too 

 important to be hastily and carelessly provided for. Yet, after 

 this acknowledgment of difficulties perhaps insuperable of 

 such consequence as to affect rights of property, and to hinder 

 that improvement, the elucidation of the best means for which 

 was the principal design of their appointment, they wind up 

 their report by observing, that they would feel themselves com- 

 pelled to ask a long extension of time for making it, " if it were 

 necessary to go into a separate investigation on behalf of Ire- 

 land;" but they "are satisfied that no such necessity exists, and 

 that whatever laws are requisite for the British salmon fisheries, 

 will be found generally sufficient for those of Ireland." They 

 then, after proceeding to say they cannot hope to arrive at con- 

 clusions more satisfactory to all the parties interested than those 

 obtained by former parliamentary committees, close their labours, 

 " with a view to economy, and the early relief of the Irish pro- 

 prietors," by referring to the evidence recently collected, and 

 to the several reports on the British salmon fisheries : and 

 they suggest that those of Ireland, " be embraced in any act 

 which will arise out of these researches of the parliamentary 

 committees,* with such additions as may be found necessary in 

 placing the fisheries of the two countries on the same legal 

 footing."! 



* Reports of Committees, 1824. The report of the select committee appointed 

 to take into consideration the state of the salmon fisheries of Scotland, and of 

 the United Kingdom, and the laws affecting the same, was laid before the House 

 on the 17th June, 1824. The object of the members of this committee appears 

 to have been to elicit information and opinions on this subject, then compara- 

 tively uninquired into, and on which statements were very conflicting. They 

 acknowledge the caution and consideration due to it, and deferred the pronun-i 

 eiation of opinion until the information they had published "might have served 

 to attract attention, and lead individuals of intelligence to examine, and, sub-< 

 sequently, subject it to the test of dispassionate consideration, and further 

 inquiry ;" and recommended that further inquiry and evidence should be made 

 and taken the ensuing session. This was done the following year. The report 

 is dated March, 1825. 



t This Inquiry and Keport into the Irish river fisheries (dated 4th November, 

 1836), was probably left incomplete from the circumstance, that 23rd March,, 

 1836, a select committee had been appointed ' to consider the state of the sal- 



