APPENDIX A 427 



Fishery districts having been arranged, provision was made for 

 the creation of District Fishery Boards to regulate local matters. 

 These Boards are composed entirely of proprietors, who hold rights 

 of salmon fishing, the maximum number on a Board is seven, and 

 the proprietor who is possessed of the largest rental acts as chairman. 

 Members are elected at meetings of upper and of lower qualified pro- 

 prietors, so that each group is equally represented independently of the 

 chairman. When proprietors are fewer in number than seven provision 

 is made for an evenly-balanced Board accordingly. The Boards have 

 statutory powers to prosecute against local offences under the Act, 

 and " any other person " is also given this power ; to seize nets, rods, 

 etc., by means of their water-bailiffs ; and to recover penalties 

 incurred. 



By the Act of 1868 the powers and duties of District Boards 

 were defined and extended. By Section IX. they are given power to 

 petition the Secretary for Scotland : 



1. To vary the annual close time, which must, however, always 



be 168 days. 



2. To vary the weekly close time, which must, however, always 



be 36 hours. 



3. To alter the regulations with respect to the observance of 



annual and weekly close times. 



4. To alter the regulation with respect to the construction 



and use of cruives or weirs. 



Power is also given to purchase, for purpose of removal, dam 

 dykes, cruives, or other fixed engines ; to remove any natural 

 obstruction or water-fall, by agreement, and to attach a fish-pass 

 thereto ; and generally to do such acts or execute such works as 

 may appear expedient for the protection and improvement of the 

 fisheries under their charge. 



Funds for the execution of such works and for all expenses of 

 District Boards are raised in Scotland by means of an assessment 

 upon the yearly value of the fisheries entered in the Valuation Eoll, 

 and this system of assessment is found to answer very well, and to 

 be, as is thought in Scotland, superior to the system of raising 

 money by means of licences as in England, where the granting of 

 over many licences is apt to be prejudicial to the best interests of 

 a district, and where also when, owing to any decline in the 

 fisheries, the licences are not taken out in any number, an absence 

 of funds results. Further, for enabling Boards to meet such 



