II. In Scotland there are various important differences from the law of England as regards salmon fisheries. In Scotland, the general rule is that all salmon fisheries in the rivers and surrounding seas are vested in the crown, and hence no person is entitled to fish with nets or engines except he can show a grant or charter from the crown. If he can only show a general grant of fishings without specifying salmon, then it is necessary not only to produce such grant, but to show that he has been in exclusive possession for 40 years and upward of the salmon fishings. Moreover, while this right to catch salmon by nets is vested in the crown, or in some grantee of the .crown, the right to angle for salmon is now held to be included, and does not belong to the riparian owner. The public, qua public, have no right anywhere in Scotland to fish for salmon either with net or rod. By virtue of many old statutes, all fixed engines for catching salmon are illegal, and it is settled that everything is in the nature of a fixed engine which is not held in the hand of the fishermen while they are fishing; but a mechanical contrivance, which enables the fisherman to go a little further into the river with his coble or boat, which is to drag the net, is not illegal. Stake nets, however, are not illegal if they are not in a river or the mouth of a river. In 1862 and 1868. statutes were passed regulating the Scotch salmon fisheries. By these acts fishery districts are authorized to be managed
by boards. These boards consist of the large proprietors of fisheries. The boards appoint constables, water-bailiffs, and watchers, forming a kind of river police. The hoard has power to assess the various proprietors in sums so as to raise funds for paying the expenses a working the act—like funds being raised in England only by license duties. The annual close time for salmon fishing is fixed by the commissioners, and varies in each district, but it generally extends from Aug. 27 to Feb. 10 following; the angler's close time commencing about Oct. 16. The commissioners are appointed by the home secretary, their duties being to fix the limits of fishery districts and of rivers, to make general regulations as to close time, cruives, nets, etc. The Scotch acts imitate the Eng lish acts in prohibiting fishing with lights or salmon roe, with nets having small meshes, etc. And there is a weekly close time from 6 P.M. 011 Saturday to C A.M. on Monday following.
III. Ireland.—The Irish salmon fishery laws are regulated chiefly by statutes distinct from those of England. Fishery districts are there established, and the fisheries are subject to rates. and license duties for the purpose of raising funds. There is an annual and weekly close time, and fixed engines are prohibited, and free gaps enforced in all fishing weirs.