MR. HENLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or the Lord Advocate, Whether the Government have under consideration the steps to be taken with reference to the proceedings of the Commissioners of Salmon Fisheries (Scotland), which have occasioned complaints of by-laws having been framed and the approval of the Secretary of State obtained by surprise and mistake; and whether it is intended to introduce any Bill to amend the Act of last Session as to Salmon Fisheries (Scotland), 1130 so as to define the course of proceedings before the Commissioners, and to prevent any interference in matters which are the subject of litigation in the established legal tribunals?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY,in reply, said, he was not aware that there had been any ground of complaint as to the by-laws made by the Commissioners having been passed by surprise. The Act required that the by-laws should be made before the 1st of January in the present year, and after they were published that notice should be given to all the parties concerned. After an interval of a month from the date of publication, the Home Secretary was empowered cither to confirm, alter, or disallow the by-laws. He had confirmed all those to which no objection had been made, and the rest he had reserved for future consideration. He was not aware of any alteration in the Act being contemplated, but he would communicate with his right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate, and answer the second question of the right hon. Gentleman on a future evening.