FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 219 



their 'relation to other interests, the State has decided, 



after full investigation, to abolish, with but slight exceptions, " Free trade " 



in relation to 

 all former enactments, many of them inconsistent with the fisheries. 



themselves and with each other, many of them defeating 

 their own objects, and most of them practically inoperative, 

 and to substitute for them a new law, distinguishing 

 between inland fisheries and sea fisheries with a further 

 slight distinction between certain branches of fishing carried 

 on close to the shore, and others mainly prosecuted in deep 

 water and to apply to each branch a definite principle. 

 All direct incentives to the prosecution of the fisheries, in 

 the shape of bounties, have been removed ; all attempts at 

 protection not absolutely proved to be necessary or likely 

 to be of advantage, have been abandoned : and the inter- 

 ference of the State has been confined to the maintenance 

 of law and order, the prevention of unquestionable abuses, 

 and the adjustment of disputes between conflicting interests. 



The practical result of this policy, reduced to a system, Resume of 



r .. laws. 



is as follows : 



1. The salmon and trout fisheries, being most sus- Salmon, 

 ceptible to destructive tendencies, are placed under 

 severely " Protective " laws, which may be adjusted 



to local requirements, but not abrogated, by local 

 conservators. 



2. Other fresh-water fisheries are also afforded a slight other 

 protection, maintainable or not at the discretion of fisheries, 

 local bodies or private owners. 



3. The sea fisheries, being least susceptible to destruc- Sea fisheries, 

 tive agencies, are placed under a law which, with but 



very slight exceptions, gives perfect freedom to the 

 fishermen to fish when, where, and how they please, 

 so long as they respect the rights of others. 



