498 peesident's address. 



Passing by various transactions of great importance in the 

 history of the title to the fishery, but throwing very little light 

 on its condition or value, we come down to the year 1760 when 

 Hugh, Earl of Northumberland, agreed to let " all that salmon 

 fishery commonly called the Low Lights Fishery, at North 

 Shields, extending from the east end of North Shields afore- 

 said to the bar mouth for three years from January 1, 1760, 

 at the yearly rental of £5 5s." This rent was regularly paid to 

 1764. The fishery was then let to Robert Pow for a like sum. 



In 1809 we again find the Duke of Northumberland letting 

 this fishery, together with the sparling or smelt fishery at White- 

 hill Point, to William Methune the Younger, for £5 5s. yearly 

 rent. In 1832 the fishery from Whitehill Point to the mouth of 

 the river was taken by Greorge Pringle at a yearly rent of £25. 

 In 1835 the fishery had become less valuable, for the rent was 

 then reduced to £21. This rental continued in force until 1842, 

 when the Tyne Salmon Fishery Act came into force, and Thomas 

 Aitman, the tenant of the duke, was allowed to retain possession 

 of the fishery from year to year under a verbal agreement, with 

 the understanding that he was to repay the rates assessed upon 

 the duke as owner, in respect of the said fishery. In 1843 a rate 

 of 3s. in the pound was levied under the authority of the Act of 

 question, and the annual value of the fishery was fixed at £2. 



In 1862 the General Salmon Fisheries Act came into opera- 

 tion, and the Tyne Act was repealed. 



The stake nets, which formerly existed at the mouth of the 

 river, were discontinued about 1833, but were afterwards in 

 1844 re-established for a short time. 



Our next meeting place was at High Force, in Teesdale, on 

 July 21st and 22nd. Never were two days more pleasantly and 

 happily spent than those which were embraced in the period of 

 our stay in this most striking and charming locality. A consi- 

 derable proportion of the party started from Newcastle on the 

 day previous to the meeting. Others followed on next morning 

 by the first train from Newcastle, and all met at breakfast at the 

 High Force Inn. 



