The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-04 00:00:00

English Salmon Fisheries.

Mr. Ffennell's fifth annual report to the Home
Secretary on the salmon fisheries of England and
Wales has just been issued. Mr. Ffennell remarks :
" Two unusually dry summers following in succes-
sion affected all the rivers in the United Kingdom, and
those of England, whose recovery from extreme ex-
haustion had only just set in, were not in a state to bear
so well this unfavourable occurrence as the rivers of
Scotland and Ireland, where more stamina existed.
The very favourable results, however, which had
been experienced in the operation of the first two
years of the Act of 1861 had convinced the public
of the soundness of the principles which it recognised,
and had established a firm conviction that the salmon

fisheries of England would and must prosper under

such improved laws, if so amended and strengthened
as to enable them to be adequately administered."

The report gives au elaborate analysis of the Act
28 and 29 Vict. c. 121, which is now about to come
important
the l e yi n levying roo f-
vi oi
st oi 0
nosp e rati on. d
hienr e t
ha Try,ise
act
o: voenre
licence duties on all instruments used in the capture
of salmon, for the purpose of providing funds for
protection, and the constitution of boards of con-
servators to administer those funds ; the other, the
appointment of special commissioners to ascertain
what fixed engines are entitled to be continued in
use under the provisions of the Act of 1861. " There
are two questions at stake," Mr. Ffennel proceeds
to remark, " of vital importance to the future pros-
perity of the fishery : one the removal of all fixed
engines iu tidal waters ' not privileged under the
Act of 1861;' and the other the removal or regula-
tion, as the case ,may be, of all fishery weirs
and fishery mill dams in fresh waters, in con-
formity with the provisions of that act. The
is t o be hoped
that this measurewill
b e
consequences
v t ha g
eimr d
ameliorations
important
r in
tant extent,
Legislature has provided a means by which these
of
protracted and expensive litigation.
matters may bo determined and set at rest for ever
o
without further delay, and at_ the same time reliev-
ing the fishery interests fromtheatin. It
appreciated as it should
be,u and
e that the many who have vigorously come
forward
support of fishery protection will be
further
stimulated in their laudable zeal, and en-
couraged their exertions and attention to
other
erto
in the state the waters of the
country, which may undoubtedly
eas murte•es effectedquit
e
the scope of practical application be systemati-
cally and judiciously adopted. Next in importance
to the restriction of fixed engines within the
limits assigned to them by the Act of 1861 are the
_enactments in the Act of 1865, which provide for
levying licence duties or rates upon all engines em-
ployed in the capture of salmon, to be applied for
the purposes of protection under the direction of
boards of conservators, who are to be appointed by
the magistrates at quarter sessions. The manifest
necessity for such a measure has been so fully dis-
cussed in former reports, and so generally acquiesced
in, that it is unnecessary to offer any remarks upon
either the expediency or equity of the principle of a
fixed arrangement of this kind, by which every one
wishing to partake of the benefits will contribute to
the protection of that in which he has an interest,
and of which he desires to avail himself."

Twenty-four districts have been formed under the
act, of which the boundaries are given in the report.
Mr. Ffennell remarks in conclusion :—" In former
reports I have expressed an opinion that much more
might be done than has been done in mitigating the
effects of pollutions, even as the law stands at pre-
sent. I am still of that opinion
formation of districts with boardsand hope that the
of conservators
will lead to more practical activity in this direction."

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