56 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
' the result is startling j there being no Fishery Board, none of the penalties 
1 under the Act of 1861 can be enforced. There is nothing to prevent the 
1 trout being speared, roe being used for bait, or trout taken all the year 
4 round. It is rather a judgment on the selfishness of some of the landowners. 
' They would not come into a district for the common good, but stood out 
4 for their own ends in refusing to have common action. The consequence 
4 is that they now find themselves delivered over as a prey to the poacher. 
4 But all these are but minor matters compared to the stop this decision 
1 has put to that most important work that the Fishmongers' Company 
' has been doing for some years past in connection with our salmon fisheries. 
' As is well known, the Fishmongers' Compauy, with a zeal that does them 
4 the greatest credit, have taken up the question of the traffic in salmon 
1 during close time to France and the Continent, and have succeeded, after 
4 much hard work, to a great extent in reducing that traffic, the result 
' being to cause a reduction of poaching in the winter on our rivers. The 
' effect of the decision of the Queen's Bench Division is to put an end to 
4 this work of the Fishmonger's Company. They are not a Fishery Board 
' appointed under the Fishery Acts, and, according to the Lord Chief - 
4 Justice, they cannot, therefore, take proceedings under these Acts. 
1 There is for the future no one that can do this in London, and next close 
' season, unless something is done, the trade in unclean salmon will go on 
4 with France without any restriction. Anything more unfortunate 
1 it is difficult to imagine. The good work the Fishmongers' Com- 
' pany have done for some years past will be all undone, and our rivers 
4 will be far more poached than ever. We do not hesitate to say that 
' unless something is done in the course of the present Session to empower 
' it to stop the trade in unclean salmon in the course of next autumn and 
4 winter, our fisheries will receive a blow that it will take years to get over. 
' The question arises, What is to be done ? If the Board of* Trade had 
' really the interests of the fishermen at heart, they would have moved in 
4 the matter, but we see no sign of their doing it. We presume they know 
1 of the decision, which, no doubt, they are considering if it applies to any- 
' thing, or is of any importance, not recognising that it upsets the whole of 
' our system of fish preservation. Some member might get up in Parlia- 
1 ment and ask if the Board had heard of the case, and what they intended 
* doing ; but, while they are considering, precious time is being lost. We 
' feel that immediate action should be taken, and our great hope is that 
4 the Fishmongers' Company, who have already done so much for the 
1 fishermen, will come to our aid at this pinch. A short Bill of one clause, 
1 saying that where no Fishery Board exists any person could recover the 
' penalties under the Fishery Acts, is all w r e w r ant, and we feel sure that 
4 the Fishmongers' Company have enough members of Parliament in their 
4 ranks to push such a Bill through at once. If it is said that the power 
4 should not be given to private persons, then give it to public bodies like 
* this great company ; but it must be given to some one, and unless given 
' at once it will be too late.' 
