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The Commissioners having consulted such District Boards as 

 were in existence when they drew up their Report, it may be 

 useful to see what answers these Boards gave, bearing on local 

 management. 



In reference to the query, "Is the constitution of District 

 Boards satisfactory, as regulated by 25 and 26 Viet., cap. 37 

 (1862), and 31 and 32 Viet., cap. 128 (1868) ? If not, state 

 what improvements you would suggest, and why ? " 



From the Forth District an answer came containing the 

 following statement : " It should be made obligatory on pro- 

 prietors of salmon fishings to appoint and maintain efficient 

 District Boards, unless it be intended to depute their powers to 

 Government Inspectors. At present there are no District Boards 

 in the great majority of the salmon fishery districts. But even if 

 there were, for all the rivers, I think it absolutely necessary that 

 there should be qualified inspectors, with power to examine and 

 inquire into all fisheries, and cause the enactments relating to 

 them to be carried out." " The absence of authoritative inspec- 

 tion is a direct encouragement to neglect of the regulations." 



From the Toy District an answer came containing the following 

 statements : " I am opposed to the manner in which District 

 Boards are constituted. No Board with four to three can be a 

 fair tribunal. Boards should be constituted of an equal number 

 of upper and lower heritors, their chairman having a deliberative 

 but not a casting vote. Instead of Boards, I would rather give 

 the management of the fisheries to two paid Commissioners, 

 provided they had ample powers." 



" District Boards should not have direct authority, but should 

 report to a Central Board in Edinburgh. Some means should be 

 devised for preventing individual interests being prejudicial to the 

 general good of the fisheries in the district." 



"Six members are sometimes more than can be found in the 

 district of a small river. Again, 'six members are fewer than 

 will admit of all the interests of a larger district being fully 

 represented." 



From the South Esk District an answer came containing the 

 following statements : " I consider District Boards of little use, 



VOL. VI. C. O 



