§ MR. MALCOLMsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is lawful, under the Act 24 & 25 Vic. c. 109, ss. 14 and 34, for a justice of the peace to empower by warrant any inspector to seize and open boxes which there is probable cause to suspect of containing foul or unseasonable salmon while in transitu under the care of railway or other carriers; and, whether, in the event of its being considered illegal for a justice so to empower an inspector, he is willing to extend the power granted to the Customs Officers under the Act 26 Vic. c. 10, from the 2nd February to the 30th April?
MR. BRUCEsaid, he would not presume to expound what was rather an intricate point of law; but, after making the best inquiry he could in that matter, he was of opinion that it was not lawful for a justice of the peace to authorize any inspector to seize and open boxes of salmon under the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member. As to the second part of the Question, he saw no objection to extending the power of the Customs officers, under 26 Vict. c. 10, 587 to seize foul or unseasonable salmon from the 2nd of February to the 30th of April.