§ Order for Third Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."
§ MAJOR CUMMING BRUCEsaid, he should move that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. He contended, that, if passed, the effect of the Bill would be to confiscate the property of individuals who had as clear a right to their Salmon Fishings as any man bad to his estate. The object was not to promote any public advantage, but to absorb private rights for the benefit of one or two great proprietors. If the object were public, let it be accomplished by a public Act.
§ Amendment proposed to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."
MR. E. ELLICE (St. Andrew's)said, he should support the Motion for the third reading. The measure would only prevent a species of fishing which would soon prove completely fatal to the breed of salmon in those rivers.
§ MR. H. BAILLIEsaid, he objected to the Bill because it proposed to render illegal in two of the rivers running into the Moray Firth that which was left perfectly legal in the other rivers falling into that estuary.
§ MR. FENWICKsaid, as Chairman of the Committee to which the Bill was referred, he could state that all that the measure did was to regulate the mode in which the right of fishing should be exercised, and the Committee were unanimous in the conclusion they had arrived at on the subject.
THE EARL OF MARCHsaid, that if the House legislated at all upon the subject it ought to pass a general measure, and not one of an exceptional character.
§ MR. MASSEYthought the House was not in a position to review the decision of the Select Committee, and he hoped it would not undertake to reverse that decision.
§ Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ The House divided:—Ayes 148; Noes 93: Majority 55.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read 3°, and passed.