§ Enactments which are to cease to apply within the Solway District.
§ The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Acts, 1828 to 1868, except Sections twenty-three and thirty-three of The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1862, and the provisions of The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868, relating to offences, so far as they are applied by this Act.
§ The local Act of the session of the forty-fourth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, chapter forty-five, intituled 'An Act for the better regulating and improving the fisheries in the arm of the sea between the County of Cumberland and the Counties of Dumfriesshire and Wigton and the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and also the fisheries in the several streams and waters which run into or communicate with the said arm of the sea,' except Section nine thereof.
§ The local Act of the session of the fourth and fifth years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, chapter eighteen, intituled 'An Act for the more effectual preservetion and improvement of the fisheries in the River Annan, in the County of Dumfries, and in the streams and waters running into the same and on the shores or sea coasts adjacent to the mouth or entrance of the said river.'
§ All other enactments relating to salmon fisheries in Scotland."—[Sir R. Sanders.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."
§ Dr. CHAPPLEI would like to extend my congratulations to the Minister for this very excellent piece of consolidation. It is a Bill of 93 Clauses. It went through Committee in less than two hours, and we have spent about two-and-a-half hours on it to-night, and that is four-and-a-half hours altogether. I am sure the Minister 2118 will be the first to admit that his Department has put much labour into the measure. The officials have now got an experience which I hope he will place at the disposal of the Scottish Board. I appeal to him that, if the experience which has got this Bill through in four-and-a-half hours of Parliamentary time were bestowed on a similar measure to consolidate the law with regard to salmon and trout fisheries in Scotland it would be time well spent. I would appeal to him to allow his Department to do for Scotland what it has done for England. They have reconciled conflicting interests and have produced a piece of legislation which will require little amendment for many years to come. In my own constituency the Nith is being shamelessly polluted to-day. I am sure the law requires to be strengthened and consolidated, and I appeal to the right hon. Gentleman to make that little concession.
§ Sir R. SANDERSI thank the hon. Member for what he has said. It is like a vote of thanks at the end of a meeting. What he has said with regard to those of my Department who have worked on this Bill is well-deserved. They have devoted to it a great deal of anxious work, extending over several years, and I am sure that all those interested in fishing ought to be grateful to them for the labour which they have put in. I ought also to thank the House for having enabled me to pass this Bill in four and a half hours, which, after all, is not a bad record. I will certainly convey to those in my Department who have been working on the Bill the request of the hon. Member that, when they have had a little rest, they may place their experience at the disposal of Scotland.
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.
§ It being after half-past Eleven of the Clock upon Monday evening, Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
§ Adjourned at Twenty-three Minutes before Two o'Clock a.m.