ADMINISTRATION IN ENGLAND 99 



But there was no actual supervisory staff or 

 fisheries office, and it was not until 1886 that such 

 was created. The Salmon Fishery Act of 1861 

 had made somewhat elaborate provision for the 

 regulation of the fresh-water fisheries, and placed 

 their general superintendence under the Home 

 Office. Two inspectors were appointed, who 

 (with the local " conservators or overseers for the 

 preservation of salmon"), were entrusted with the 

 task of carrying out the provisions of this Act. 

 One of the duties of these officials was to prepare 

 and lay before Parliament an annual report contain- 

 ing a " Statistical Account of the Fisheries, with 

 such other information as may be collected, and 

 suggestions for their regulation and improve- 

 ment." This was the germ of the English central 

 authority. In 1886, the Salmon and Fresh-water 

 Fisheries Act transferred these inspectors from the 

 Home Office to the Board of Trade, and at the 

 same time extended the provisions of the Act of 

 1 86 1, so far as this concerned the preparation of 

 reports, to the sea-fisheries. From 1886 to 1903 

 the Board of Trade contained the department 

 entrusted with the regulation of the fisheries. 

 During the last few years of the nineteenth century 

 the condition of this department seems to have 

 become very unsatisfactory, and, in response to 

 a widespread demand for its reform, another 

 transfer took place in 1903, and the Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries became the department 



