§ Mr. Humepresented a petition from the merchants, bankers, and other inhabitants of Arbroath. They complained that the salmon fisheries of Scotland had been much impeded by a recent interpretation which had been put upon the laws, which prohibited the use of a certain kind of nets, by means of which great quantities of salmon used to be caught. The consequence of this was, that a monopoly was now thrown into a few hands. The petitioners stated, that they understood a bill was about to be brought into parliament which would have an injurious effect upon 646 their interests, and they humbly prayed, that the House would enact no law which would injure them, and consequently affect the community at large. He felt it necessary to state, that in his opinion the allegations in the petition were quite correct, and he, therefore, hoped the House would turn their attention to the subject.