5 50 SALMON LEG IS LA TION IN SCO TLAND. 



THE SOLWAY. 



The history of the law relating to the Solway Firth is a 

 very complicated one, and no purpose would be served by 

 entering into it here. 



There are still several old Scotch Acts which must be 

 referred to in ascertaining the law on some points, but the 

 Act which now regulates the Scotch portion of the Solway 

 (except the Annan and the Esk) is the Act of 1804, 45 

 Geo. III., c. 45. There are also the Annan Acts, the 

 English Acts of 1861 and 1865, and the Scotch Acts of 

 1862 and 1868. 



Within the limits of the Firth, as at present fixed, are 

 included the estuaries of about ten English rivers, eight 

 Scotch rivers, and one partly Scotch and partly English. 

 These limits are, however, far too wide, and were fixed 

 under a mistake, as shown in the Report after referred to. 



The Solway Act of 1804 legislated for the fisheries on 

 both sides of the Firth. It fixed the limits to be that 

 portion of the Firth east of a line drawn from Skinberness, 

 in Cumberland, to Carsethorn of Arbigland in Kirkcudbright, 

 and within a line drawn from thence two miles seaward 

 along the coast to Mull of Galloway on one side, and 

 Hodbarrow Point in Cumberland on the other.* It fixed a 

 close season, and made stringent regulations for its observ- 

 ance, and against illegal modes of fishing, and generally 

 provided for the regulation of the fisheries. The English 

 Act of 1 86 1, however, repealed the Solway Act so far as it 

 related to England, and made certain enactments in place 

 of it. The Scotch Act of 1862 did not follow this example, 

 but declared the provisions of the English Act, with regard 



* See map attached to Solway Report, by Messrs. Young and 

 Walpole, November 30, 1880, 



