§ MR. R. T. REIDasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the fact that in "licences to fish for salmon in public or common waters with movable instruments" within the fishery district of the River Eden, the Eden Fishery Board granting the licence interpret therein the word "coasts" to mean "so much of the said Solway Firth as lies south of the middle of the low water channel, between the coasts of England and Scotland;" and, whether this interpretation of the word "coasts" has the effect of bringing the district of the River Eden in some places within 300 yards of Scotland, and under what authority this interpretation is adopted.
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH)The Conservators of the Eden Fishery District can only interpret their jurisdiction according to the terms of their certificate. The terms used include in the district "so much of the said Solway Firth as lies south of the line drawn midway between the coasts of England and Scotland." Such a line might have the effect indicated in the Question of the hon. Gentleman. Any authoritative interpretation of the terms of the certificate would naturally rest with a Court of Law.