970 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



" Art. 46. From the ist of May to the 3oth of August 

 no boat shall have on board any dredge or other implement 

 whatever for catching oysters. 



" Art. 47. It is forbidden to dredge for oysters between 

 sunset and sunrise. 



" Art. 48. The fishermen shall cull the oysters on the 

 fishing-ground, and shall immediately throw back into the 

 sea all oysters less than 2^ inches in the greatest diameter 

 of the shell, and also all sand, gravel, and fragments of 

 shells. 



"Art. 49. It is forbidden to throw into the sea, on 

 oyster fishing-grounds, the ballast of boats or any other 

 thing whatsoever which might be detrimental to the oyster- 

 fishing." 



18 and 19 Viet., chap. 101, entitled "An Act for the 

 effectual execution of the Convention," enacts : 



"Art. i. Officers of the Coast-guard or Customs to 

 seize dredges and oysters found on board fishing-vessels, 

 between the i st of May and the 3 1 st of August. 



" Art. 2. Oysters landed between the above dates may 

 be seized." 



In 1 843 a Convention was made between England and 

 France, for the establishment of a common set of fishery 

 rules on the coasts of either country ; the purpose being 

 not so much the preservation of sea-fish as the prevention 

 of strife between fishermen of the two nations, and avoid- 

 ance of difficulties about jurisdiction. 



On the 3ist of July, 1855, was published "An Act 

 (18 and 19 Viet.) for the more effectual execution of the 

 Convention between Her Majesty and the French Govern- 

 ment, concerning the Fisheries in the Seas between the 

 British Islands and France," the text of which is as 

 follows : 



