§ 92. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will explain the circumstances under which representatives of the Fishmongers' Company in London are appointed by him as 81W inspectors of salmon fisheries off the Berwickshire coast; and how long this practice has been in operation.
§ Mr. J. StuartUnder the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act, 1951, the Secretary of State may appoint persons to exercise powers similar to those of a water bailiff in relation to any waters to which the Act applies. The inspector in Scotland of the Fishmongers' Company, and the assistant inspector, were so appointed on 15th August, 1951, and 26th August, 1954, respectively.
The Fishmongers' Company has for nearly a century concerned itself with the enforcement of the salmon fishery law in Scotland and the appointments were made to give its inspectors powers similar to those they had exercised before the Act of 1951 was passed. Inspectors in Scotland act in co-operation with the salmon fishery district boards, where these exist, and with the police.