SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCOTLAND. 509 



Secretary of State, did not overlook the principle, " Sen- 

 tentiae ponderantur, non numerantur." The labour and 

 skill displayed in digesting and arranging the mass of 

 opinions and dicta of all sorts cannot fail to secure the 

 admiration of any one who consults the Report. 



This Report, even at this distance of time, still remains 

 the most recent official paper relating to the general ques- 

 tions connected with the Scotch salmon fisheries, and it 

 must necessarily form an indispensable and valuable source 

 of reference and consultation in the framing of any new 

 measure dealing with the subject. 



FISHERY BOARD ACT OF 1882. 



It now only remains to notice the Fishery Board (Scot- 

 land) Act of 1882, which contains a few sections relating 

 to salmon fishings. Though few, these sections are very 

 important. Section 2 provides that the Fishery Board 

 established by the Act shall have the general superin- 

 tendence of the salmon fisheries of Scotland, and shall 

 have the powers and duties of Commissioners under the 

 Salmon Fishery Acts, but without prejudice to, or inter- 

 ference with, the powers of district boards. The Board is 

 to render an annual report to the Home Office, containing 

 all statistics relating to the fisheries, with suggestions for 

 their regulation and improvement. This Report will be 

 presented to Parliament, and issued to the public in the 

 same manner as the English Salmon Fishery Inspector's 

 Reports. 



The most important provision in the Act, however, is 

 that empowering the Secretary of State to appoint an 

 Inspector of Scotch Salmon Fisheries, who will have duties 

 and powers analogous to those of the English and Irish 



