SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCOTLAND. 513 



POWERS OF INSPECTOR. 



It does not appear that the powers granted to the In- 

 spector of Scotch Salmon Fisheries by the Fishery Board 

 Act are very ample, or co-extensive with those possessed 

 by the English and Irish inspectors. The Secretary of 

 State is to appoint an inspector, who, under the direction 

 of the Board, shall inspect the salmon fisheries, inquire into 

 the operation of the Salmon Fishery Acts, and report 

 thereon from time to time. The inspector is a responsible 

 and able official, and a great deal more might be entrusted 

 to his discretion than the Government have thought fit to 

 do by this Act. He might advantageously be made an 

 intermediate authority between the Local Boards and the 

 Fishery Board, with power to advise and direct the former 

 in any cases of difficulty which might arise, and he should 

 have power to act as a District Board in all cases where no 

 District Board has been constituted or now exists. He is 

 required by the Act to report on the fisheries, and the 

 operation of the Acts, from time to time, which, it is pre- 

 sumed, will be yearly ; but it does not appear that he has 

 any power to require the District Boards to render annual 

 reports to him with regard to their districts. Possibly he 

 may be able to attain this result without express powers, 

 but it would be more satisfactory if he had these. The 

 English Boards of Conservators send in annual reports, 

 containing all available statistics with regard to their dis- 

 tricts, with suggestions and remarks thereon, and the value 

 of these cannot well be over-estimated. The inspector 

 should also have power himself to make bye-laws for the 

 protection of the fisheries, and their regulation and develop- 



VOL. i. E. 3. 2 L 



