SALMON LEGISLA TION IN SCOTLAND. 523 



the chief constable of the county, or other official, and 

 satisfy him that the nets were closed for fishing for an 

 equal period when the weather allowed it ; also that the 

 close time should be by tides and not by hours, as is the 

 case in the Tweed. 



With regard to the possibility of reducing the number of 

 fixed engines now in operation on the coast, the Crown has 

 in its hands the means of materially contributing to this 

 effect, and at the same time showing a good example. We 

 refer to the ownership by the Crown of all the fishings on the 

 seashore which have not been granted, and these must be 

 very numerous. If the Crown would abolish fixed nets 

 in its own waters, means might be found to induce other 

 proprietors to follow the example, (i.) If the Crown were 

 to carry to its legitimate issue the inquiry set on foot in 

 1859, as to the titles of all persons exercising salmon 

 fishing on the seashore, a large number of persons now 

 fishing would be turned off. (2.) Every proprietor whose 

 title had been examined and found satisfactory should be 

 entered on a register (a copy of which should be supplied 

 to District Boards), and a certificate to that effect should 

 be granted him by the Commissioners of Woods and 

 Forests, which he should be bound to exhibit at all times 

 when asked by proper authority, care being taken, of 

 course, to provide that this was only a certificate of title to 

 salmon fishings, and not of legality of any mode of fishing. 

 (3.) After a reasonable interval to allow proprietors to send 

 in their titles for examination, it should be declared that 

 all persons not in the list and not provided with certificates 

 of title, should be liable to prosecution, and penalties for 

 illegal fishing, which should be rigorously enforced. Any 

 proprietor producing a good title after prosecution had 

 been instituted against him, to be liable in all expenses. 



