There being a general conviction in Scotland of the 

 decline of our salmon fisheries, and no appearance of any 

 intention on the part of the Executive Government to 

 adopt remedial measures, a number of fishery proprietors 

 and representatives of angling clubs, conceived the idea 

 of forming an Association for endeavouring to make the 

 Scotch public aware of the virtual non-existence of any 

 proper system of protection and management of the 

 fisheries, and also to urge upon Government the necessity 

 of better legislative arrangements. 



At a public meeting in Edinburgh, held in January 1881, 

 the Scotch Fisheries Improvement Association was estab- 

 lished with that view. His Grace the Duke of Sutherland 

 consented to be President ; and the Earl of Breadalbane, 

 the Earl of Dalhousie, Lord Polwarth, the late Sir Robert 

 Christison, Sir James M. Gibson, and myself were ap- 

 pointed Vice-Presidents ; with a Council of fifteen mem- 

 bers, practically acquainted with the subject of salmon 

 fisheries. 



This Association has accordingly, by means of public 

 meetings for discussion, by circulation of Reports, and by 

 sending memorials and deputations to Government, en- 

 deavoured to make known and urge the necessity of 

 remedial measures. 



I also individually endeavoured to contribute some 

 amount of help towards the same object, by the publica- 

 tion of a small tract, to explain the reason why the 

 District Fishery Boards authorised by the Acts of 1862 

 and 1868 were so much disapproved of in Scotland.* 



I there ventured to suggest that the lines of the 



* In Appendix C., p. 1 88, extracts from this tract are given by the 

 courteous permission of the Executive Committee of this Exhibition 



