118 SALMON RIVERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. 



outset." On these principles salmon are doomed to 

 extinction in many at present valuable rivers ; and 

 being unable to resist the force of the utilitarian argu- 

 ment, we can only groan under the prospective loss. 

 We are slightly comforted by learning that most of the 

 Acts under which gas companies are constituted pro- 

 vide penalties against suffering any escape from the 

 works into rivers ; and that, as the residuary matters 

 are valuable, the Commissioners recommend that the 

 law against this abuse be made peremptory. 



The recommendations of the Commissioners in pro- 

 viding a remedy for the evils they deplore are mainly 

 those indicated by the Select Committee of the House 

 of Lords. Considering the importance of an increased 

 supply of valuable food for the public, they recommend 

 the appointment of a body of commissioners, charged 

 with the conservation of rivers ; and regarding the 

 salmon fisheries as national property of great value, 

 they are persuaded that a moderate annual cost in- 

 curred for their reclamation would be amply compen- 

 sated to the State. Though no allusion is made to the 

 action of the French Government in this department, 

 we point to it as affording ample justification of Gov- 

 ernment interference. In our articles on Pisciculture 

 we have narrated how the depopulated rivers of France 

 have been made to teem with valuable species of fish, and 

 how the ruined oyster-beds along the shores of France 

 have been restored by a very moderate expenditure of the 

 public money. So very much may be said in favour of 

 the appointment of a Minister of Kural Industry, that we 

 should be glad, in this respect, to see our Government 

 imitating that of France. It is curious that the Indians 

 inhabiting a district of British Columbia, a region abound- 

 ing with salmon, should have an institution such as the 

 French have, and such as we desiderate for this country. 



Mr Kane states that these people are governed by 

 two chiefs the Chief of the Earth, and the Chief of 

 the Waters. The latter personage appears to be of 



