This case was about the right of the residents of Dumbarton to receive fish from the rivers Clyde and Leven. Dumbarton’s crown charter conferred the right to certain salmon fishings on “the bailies, burgesses, counsellors, community, and inhabitants” of the town. For more than a century, the town had let the salmon fishings to tacksmen, who were required to sell their catch in the town market at a low rate. In 1783, the magistrates decided to issue tacks with no such restriction. Certain residents of Dumbarton sued, arguing that they had a personal interest in the salmon fishings. The magistrates responded that the new arrangement would benefit the town.
People involved
- Robert Fram — Pursuer
- James Colquhoun, of Newlands — Defender
- John MacLaurin, Lord Dreghorn — Advocate for Pursuer
- William Craig, Lord Craig — Advocate for Defender
- Sir David Rae, Lord Eskgrove, 1st Baronet — Lord Ordinary
- Matthew Connel — Named in case documents
This case was about the right of the residents of Dumbarton to receive fish from the rivers Clyde and Leven. Dumbarton’s crown charter conferred the right to certain salmon fishings on “the bailies, burgesses, counsellors, community, and inhabitants” of the town. For more than a century, the town had let the salmon fishings to tacksmen, who were required to sell their catch in the town market at a low rate. In 1783, the magistrates decided to issue tacks with no such restriction. Certain residents of Dumbarton sued, arguing that they had a personal interest in the salmon fishings. The magistrates responded that the new arrangement would benefit the town.
