SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCO TLAND. 5 1 1 



chance of receiving their full share of attention if they had 

 a board to themselves. Although the value of the salmon 

 fisheries is very small compared with the white fisheries, 

 the subject is a complicated and difficult one to manage, 

 embracing as it does the conflict of so many interests, both 

 public and private, and so many burning questions of all 

 descriptions. Besides, the very fact that the value of the 

 salmon fishings is so small, in comparison with the herring 

 fisheries (about 300,000 to 2,250,000 per annum), pre- 

 disposes one to imagine that the former must occupy a 

 subordinate position by immediate contrast with the latter. 

 There would not be the same probability of their being 

 overshadowed by the larger industry if they were in a 

 separate department, or sub-department, or simply under 

 the charge of the inspector, with responsibility direct to the 

 Home Secretary, as in the case of England. If this plan 

 were adopted, the supervision of trout fishing might be 

 added to that of salmon fishing, as it is every day be- 

 coming more evident that something must be done for the 

 preservation of trout. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF LAW. 



We shall now proceed more systematically to offer a few 

 suggestions for the improvement of the law of salmon 

 fishing in Scotland, though, as the subject has been an 

 open one for so long, and has been so fully discussed by 

 various authorities, we cannot claim entire originality in 

 many of them. As it always is good policy, however, 

 when agitating for reforms, to keep the views of the re- 

 formers before the eyes of the "powers that be," we trust 

 some purpose may be served by the present paper. 



