506 SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCO TLAND. 



of this Act (forty-three sections) might at first sight lead 

 us to suppose it of greater importance than it turns out on 

 examination really to possess. There is nothing actually 

 new in the Act, and indeed it might very well be described 

 as a revised edition of the Act of 1 862, though it is perhaps 

 not quite so comprehensive. Many of the sections in the 

 latter Act are simply re-enacted with slight alterations in 

 the wording, &c., so as to remove possible doubts as to the 

 extent of their application. There are several provisions 

 as to the constitution and proceedings of district boards, 

 and they are empowered to petition the Secretary of State 

 to make alterations as to the close times (excepting as to 

 their length), and as to cruives. The hands of the district 

 boards, and of the officials employed by them, are some- 

 what strengthened with regard to offences. The omissions 

 already alluded to are supplied. It is also enacted that 

 all nets and implements used in fishing shall, within thirty- 

 six hours after the commencement of the annual close time, 

 be removed and secured, so as to prevent their being used 

 in fishing till the end of the close time, with the exception 

 of boats for angling, and that all cruives shall be so dis- 

 mantled and secured within the same time as to prevent 

 their being used in fishing till the expiry of the close time. 

 The reason for this rule is to be found in the fact already 

 alluded to, that the proprietors or occupiers of these fixed 

 engines, particularly the nets, had been in the habit of 

 entirely ignoring the law as long as they could do so 

 without being found out. For them the close time only 

 commenced when they were forced by the authorities to 

 give up catching fish, and if the nets and cruives had been 

 allowed to remain in situ during close time, in all pro- 

 bability they would have been used as before on every 

 occasion, when the back of the officials was turned, which, 



