SCOTLAND 173 



experience is such, how many others are plundering 

 the Government ? " 



Excepting in the case of the gentleman who let 

 to the Colonel the water which he was ordered to 

 quit, successors to the estates of all the persons 

 figuring in this strange tale are contributors to our 

 chapter on Scotland. Therefore, I leave blank the 

 proper names. It would ill become me to do any- 

 thing that might revive the memories of wrath. At 

 the same time, the episode is much too good to lose. 

 In answer to a letter expressing sympathy with him 

 in the thought of what he had suffered from the 

 lawless chieftains, the Colonel wrote : 



" What is really wanted is that the Crown should 

 call for, and make a record of all charters, and then 

 take possession of all the waters not under charter 

 and let them on lease, with first option to proprietors, 

 and, if they decline, option to some one else. This 

 would bring in to the Government many thousands 

 a year. I should much like to see something done 

 to improve the fishing."" 



The subject thus amusingly raised is of much 

 public as well as being of much private importance. 

 It is worthy of consideration by the House of Lords, 

 which within recent years, as over the Bill to 

 establish a close time for trout in Scotland, has 

 shown a promising interest in the rivers of the 

 United Kingdom. Happily, in any effort to pre- 

 serve and improve fresh-water fishing, the House of 

 Commons seems always willing to follow the lead 

 of the other Chamber. 



