§ THE EARL OF MINTOasked Her Majesty's Government in respect of their forthcoming Salmon Fisheries Bill for Scotland, Whether the Bill will apply in whole or in part to the Tweed and its tributaries, which are at present subject to the provisions of special and private Acts of Parliament; also, whether it is their intention to introduce the Bill and have it printed and circulated before the Easter Recess? The noble Earl said, it was most desirable that, as far as possible, all Bills affecting Scotland should be produced before Easter. The County Meetings were held on the 30th of April, and opportunity for the consideration of such measures ought to be given them.
THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (The Marquess of LOTHIAN)said, Her Majesty's Government did intend to bring in a Salmon Fisheries Bill for Scotland, and that that Bill would include the Tweed and its tributaries, except those tributaries which were in England. As to whether the Bill would be printed and circulated before the 155 Recess, he thought the noble Earl would see that that was not possible now. This was not a simple subject, and it would be by no means easy to draw up a Bill that would be satisfactory to all the parties concerned.