of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



67 



southern shores of the Firth of Forth, and also the nets of Skye and 

 Kaasay in Inverness-shire, and I have heard the excuse offered that on 

 this account the observance of the weekly close time is likely to produce 

 little or no benefit to the fisheries. But I would remind those who may 

 be disposed to take or sympathise with this view, that it can in no case 

 be left to individuals who are personally interested in prosecuting the 

 fishing to decide whether or not certain nets may be suSiciently far 

 removed from a river to do harm. The provision of the 1862 Act reads 

 simply that " the Weekly Close Time, except for Eod and Line, shall 

 " continue from the Hour of Six of the Clock on Saturday night to the 

 " Hour of Six of the Clock on Monday morning " ; and this enactment 

 must be carried out in all localities in Scotland. If otherwise, the pro- 

 prietor or occupier lays himself open to the penalties mentioned in the 

 24th section of the 1868 Act— 



"1. He shall forfeit the Net or Nets with regard to which such 

 " Omission has occurred. 



*' 2. He shall for each Weekly Close Time during any Part of which 

 *'such Omission has occurred pay, in respect of each Net to 

 " which the Proof of such Omission applies, a sum not exceeding 

 "Ten Pounds, and a further sum not exceeding Two Pounds 

 "for every Salmon taken or killed by means of such Nets 

 " during the said Weekly Close Time." 



