SECOND READING. (Hansard, 28 May 1894)

§ LORD LAMINGTON
, in moving the Second Reading, said, the Bill was founded upon two previous Acts of Parliament, both of which rendered illegal certain means of taking trout out of the rivers and lochs of Scotland. The Bill had been promoted and drafted by the 1366 Lanarkshire Fishing Association and was supported by the West of Scotland Angling Association, both bodies representing the principal fishing and angling interests in that part of the country. They had gone to great expense in staking and improving the rivers with the view of increasing one of the most favourite means of recreation among Scotchmen, and it seemed a great shame that all their efforts should be nullified by the selfishness of some unsportsmanlike people. He knew of no serious objection except one which had been brought to his notice by people interested in salmon rivers. He had received a letter from a club at Berwick stating that the trout being the natural enemy of salmon fry it was desirable to destroy them, but he thought it necessary they should be protected as well as salmon. Some might think the close time was rather short, but he believed this Bill was only an instalment of what was desired by the Fishing Associations throughout Scotland.

THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY
had no wish to object to the Second Reading, but desired to point out that the noble Lord himself considered the close time rather too short. It was the general opinion that the 1st of March would be preferable to the 1st of February as the date fixed, because there was no doubt that trout were not in season until March. He therefore hoped that the noble Lord would consider, before the Committee stage was reached, whether the close time might not be extended to the 1st of March.

§ LORD LAMINGTON
said, the matter had, he thought, been carefully considered by all the Fishing Clubs in Scotland, and he supposed there must be different circumstances affecting different rivers with regard to the commencement of the fishing season. He imagined they had fixed this date in order to avoid opposition.