Mr. Kennedymoved for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the Salmon Fisheries of the United Kingdom. He proposed to allow ample time for filling up the blanks; so that all parties likely to be interested in, or affected by, the bill, might be in possession of its details.
Mr. Warburtonsaid, that a former report on this subject had assigned, as one of the causes of the diminution in the breed of fish, that the rivers of England were fished too hard; and it was suggested, that water-bailiffs should be appointed for their better superintendence and protection. Now, to him it appeared, that a much more eligible mode might be hit upon for increasing the supply of this fish, than the adoption of any new system of Game-laws, as he was tempted to call this proposal. Fresh salmon, under the existing law, was a prohibited article. Perhaps the gentlemen of Scotland who possessed salmon wears and fisheries could explain how this had happened. Turbot and lobsters might be freely imported; but not so salmon. Now, when his hon. friend's bill should be brought in, he meant to contend for a free trade in salmon.
Sir R. Fergussonwas convinced that his hon. friend could not have read the bill; the object of which was, to open the salmon fishery of this country, which, by the present law, was closed. The aim of his hon. friend's bill was to increase the breed by diminishing the period within which salmon might be taken.
Mr. G. Lambhoped that sufficient time would be allowed to transmit copies of the bill to all the proprietors of these fisheries throughout the United Kingdom. The original report he had read; and he ap- 1343 prehended that some knowledge of natural history would be indispensable to the due discussion of the present bill. How far the hon. gentlemen who might form the committee upon it would be prepared with this species of information, he could not anticipate; but he well remembered, that his impression was, upon perusing the report in question, which entered very largely into all the details of the breeding, habits, and peculiarities of the salmon, that the gentlemen by whom it was prepared must have passed a considerable 1344 time themselves in the society of that fish.
§ Mr. Home Drummondhad no objection to the bill being introduced, but he begged to forewarn the hon. member for Ayr, that, if his information as to the nature of some of its clauses was correct, the measure would be considered, by the owners of salmon wears in Scotland, as a mere attempt to take money out of the pockets of one set of proprietors, in order to deposit it in the pockets of another set.
§ Leave was given to bring in the bill.