SALMON FISHERY LAWS. 71 



or form whatsoever whereby the ascent of the fish up 

 the river or their return to the sea might be ob- 

 structed. In 1424 (James I.) another Act prohibited 

 the erection of all cruives and weirs; and in 1457 

 another Act ordains that no weirs should be set up 

 that could prevent the migration of salmon to the sea 

 during the smolt time, under a penalty of 10; and 

 under James III. it was enacted that all these laws 

 should remain in force. In 1489, under James IV., 

 it was enacted that the sheriffs should be ordered to 

 destroy all illegal engines; in 1563 a still more 

 stringent law was enacted, confirming the previous 

 laws, and inflicting more severe penalties, and subse- 

 quently another and still more severe law was passed, 

 under James VI., confirming the above laws, and to 

 appoint distinguished individuals as conservators over 

 all the rivers of Scotland, with full powers to inflict 

 penalties of 200, or to imprison any infringer. 

 These laws will evince the care our ancestors took of 

 these noble fish; and so abundant did they become, 

 that it is related in the " Life of Sir John Sinclair," 

 that in July 22nd, 1743, no less than 2,560 salmon 

 were caught in one haul in the Thurso river. Since 

 which various other laws have been passed, some of 

 which have been found in practice detrimental and 

 others beneficial. In 1814 the Tweed fisheries pro- 

 duced 20,000 in value, whilst in 1858 it was reduced 

 to 5,000. In 1818 Lord Grey got 14,000 for his 

 fishery on the Tay, and in forty years later this was 

 reduced to 3,000. 



In Ireland the Salmon Fishery Act was passed in 

 1842 ; this consolidated, amended, or repealed about 

 twen ty-six previous Acts, extending over a period of 

 376 years, from 1466 to 1842. Further Acts were 

 passed in 1844, in 1845, in 1848, in 1850, and in 

 1863. 



In England an Act was passed in 1 861, repealing 



