Page:On the Pollution of the Rivers of the Kingdom.djvu/57

51 and gentlemen from all parts of the kingdom, interested in the fisheries as conservators, proprietors, &c. Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole, the Inspectors of Salmon Fisheries for England and Wales, also attended it, as did Major Scott and Captain Spratt, the Special Commissioners of Fisheries, the President (Lord de Blaquiere), and various members of the Council of the Fisheries' Preservation Association being likewise present and taking active part in the proceedings.

The subject of the pollution of rivers and its destructive effect on the public health and on the fish, and the inefficacy of existing laws to meet the grievance having been very largely dwelt upon by the Chairman, (Lord Percy), and by every speaker who took part in the discussion, the following resolution was moved by Mr. Higford Burr (one of the Council of the Fisheries Preservation Association) and carried unanimously:—

"That as various rivers are seriously injured both by liquid and solid poisonous matters, and as it is necessary for the public health and supply of food for the people, that the pollutions should be prevented, further legislation is urgently needed."

On the 6th of the following August another deputation from the Fisheries Preservation Association, including Lord Northwick and other influential persons, members of Parliament and others, waited on Mr. Gathorne Hardy, the Secretary of State, and again earnestly pressed on the attention of Government, the absolute necessity that existed of putting a stop to the pollution of the rivers by some effectual measure to be introduced by the Government. Whereupon the deputation had the satisfaction of receiving from the Home Secretary the assurance "that he did not intend to continue the investigation, as he believed the experience gained by the inquiries into a few rivers would govern the whole,