xvi 
Report on Salmon Fisheries. 
numerous Fishery Districts in Scotland which have no District 
Board, should be defined with more clearness and precision. 
In spite, however, of the limited and indefinite powers possessed 
by the Fishery Board, something has been done to improve the 
Salmon Fisheries since their institution. The Shetland Islands, with 
their valuable and varied sea- trout and yellow trout fishings, have 
been brought under the operation of the Scotch Salmon Fishery 
Acts; natural obstructions in the case of several rivers have 
been opened up, and Salmon permitted to reach spawning grounds 
to which they never previously had access ; several dams over 
which Salmon had formerly to be lifted by the river watchers have 
been altered so as to afford an easy passage to ascending fish ; 
the close-time applicable to many rivers has been changed so as to 
be more in conformity with the physical characteristics of each 
river ; and, in one or two instances, attempts have been made to 
abate pollutions by the establishment of sewage-farms or the use 
of catch-pits. Little, however, comparatively, has been done of 
what the Board strongly recommended to be done, 
improvements Before closing our Report, it seems desirable to state briefly certain 
Salmon 11 ™ improvements which might be made in the existing Salmon Fishery 
Fisheries Act Acts, all of which have been recommended in the various Reports 
be h gt ie miiy of the Board since its constitution in 1882, and most, if not all of 
acceptable. which, would, we believe, be agreed to by both upper and lower 
proprietors, if embodied in a new Salmon Fisheries Bill. We 
purposely avoid all contentious matter. 
Prohibition of 1. The sale of Salmon caught during the extension of time for 
cL^htViriD^ 1 r °d-fishing should be prohibited. It is very properly prohibited 
the extension both by the Tweed and by the English Salmon Fishery Acts ; for, 
fishh™ e f ° r r ° d " as l° n £> as ^ ne mar ket is open, nets will be used for its supply as 
well as rods, and great facilities and encouragement will be given 
to illegal fishing. The following letter from Mr Eden, one of the 
original Commissioners of Scotch Salmon Fisheries, to Mr Young, 
clearly shows that it was the intention of the Commissioners to 
prohibit such sale : — ' My Dear Sir, — I hear from Mr Leslie that 
' you desire to know what was the opinion of Mr Leslie's colleagues 
1 in the original Salmon Fisheries Commission respecting the per- 
' mission to sell Salmon caught by rod after the net season is closed. 
' Mr Ffeimell's opinion was at one with mine in this, as in most 
' other points respecting the Salmon Fisheries ; and the whole 
■ Commission, while desiring to permit the rods to fish longer than 
I the nets, were most anxious to prohibit fish so taken by the rod 
' from being sold or offered for sale. I think this most desirable, 
' for as long as the market is open it will be supplied, and for its 
' supply nets will be used as well as rods.' 
District Boards 2. At present, if a District Board neglects to observe the 
office until their statutory triennial election, the Board lapses, and there is no 
successors are means of reconstituting it under the existing Salmon Fishery Acts, 
appointed. WO uld be desirable to insert a provision, in any future Act, that 
District Boards shall remain in office until their successors are 
appointed, and giving power to the sheriff of a county, on the 
petition of any two proprietors of Salmon Fishings in a district in 
that county, to reconstitute a District Board, which has been 
allowed to lapse owing to a neglect to observe the statutory 
