§ Mr. FRASER-MACKINTOSH (Inverness-shire)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, with reference to his recent statement that the practice of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests was to grant leases of salmon fishings in the sea but not in rivers and lochs, he is aware that a late proprietor of South Morar Estate applied some years ago for a grant of the salmon fishings in the loch and river of Morar, in Inverness-shire, but was refused, receiving, however, a lease at the rent of £5 a-year; and, whether he will explain why the present proprietress was favoured in 1887 by receiving a grant of 189 the identical subject refused to her predecessor?
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (A LORD of the TREASURY) (Wigton)(who replied) said: My hon. Colleague's statement, that it was not the practice to grant leases of salmon fishings, was limited to inland lochs; otherwise, the facts are as stated in paragraph 1. The reason for granting a lease was to give time for the investigation of the Crown's interest in these fishings.