APPENDIX 289 



ground is not wanted, the trout waters should be protected by 

 weirs or by some artificial obstruction. 



The falling off in the salmon beats above Nursling is else- 

 where to seek, and it is in part due to the obstruction. That 

 the rod fishermen have to suffer from a yearly decrease in the 

 salmon they kill below Romsey is a misfortune which might 

 be lessened if there were less obstruction about Nursling. 



The salmon are undoubtedly in the river, and run above 

 Mottisfont as high as Stockbridge (below which former place 

 I think they ought to be stopped) ; but I fail to see how they 

 can be legally prevented from doing so, unless the law be 

 altered. 



On the other hand, I cannot believe that, if it were the 

 unanimous wish of all the riparian owners on a river that some 

 such barrier as I have suggested should be erected, such a 

 project would be allowed to fall to the ground. 



If this is admitted by all parties, then it only means the 

 determination of some particular part in the river at which the 

 run of salmon should be checked, and collective action taken, 

 to ensure not only the improvement to the salmon fisheries, 

 but to add to the security of the trout fisherman. 



The right of the riparian owner to decide as to the best 

 interests of his own water should be upheld if such decision 

 does not prejudicially affect the rights and privileges of others. 



That the right of the individual should be safeguarded has 

 been the basis of English law, but this protection should be 

 exerted with equal force when the rights of many individuals 

 and communities are concerned. 



Riparian rights are owned by communities as well as by 

 individuals, and these rights are threatened by the passing of 

 this Bill in its present form. 



Why should the few interests which this Bill is designed to 

 assist be catered for at the expense of the many ? 



In a case in which interests are likely to clash, the rights 

 of the majority should prevail. This is the principle which 

 each successive Government endeavours to instil on the 



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