[Appendix A(21) 1792 Report of Commissioners of Inquiry]

N° 21.

RIGHTS which the Duke of Atholl conceives were unnecessary to be vested in the Crown for the Purpose of preventing illicit Practises.

No 1

The Rights which I conceive were unnecessary to be vested in the, Crown for the Purpose of preventing illicit Proceedings, are, First, the Herring-Custom, which formed Part of our Revenue previous to 1765 as appears from the Schedule of that Act ; and if it is thought, necessary, can be further, proved by Extracts for any Number of Years from the Revenue Books. It consisted of Ten Shillings, collected. Yearly; on each Boat; and-by an Act passed in the 11th of His present Majesty, cap. 52, was thrown or vested in the Harbour Funds of the Isle of Man. :l Secondly, The Salmon Fishings, which were, by the same Act, vested to the same Purposes. Although the Sovereignty over the Ports and Harbours in the Isle of Man might be necessary to have been ceded for the Purposes of preventing illicit Proceedings, I can never see why it was more necessary for the Crown to be possessed of the Harbours and Quays in the Isle of Man than in Great Britain, where (excepting the Dock Yards) they are private or corporate Property. In my Opinion, with some Outlay, of Money, and proper Care and Attention, the Harbours of this Isle might have become a valuable Property to my Family.

The Isle and Castle of Peele, although certainly not necessary to be vested in the Crown for the Purpose of preventing illicit Practices, having, since 1765, been used as a Sheep Walk by the high Bailiff of Peele, stands one of the first Articles in the Revestment. ,Feeling, as I do, some Regard for, the ancient Seats of my Family in this Island, perhaps I estimate this at more than its value.

Treasure Trove was in our original Grants of the Isle, and appears to have been omitted in the Reservation. As a Prosecution was brought against my Agent on this account, I wish to be re-instated in the Possession of it, believing that its remaining vested in the Crown is not necessary to be vested in the Crown for the Purpose of preventing illicit Proceedings