OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 973 



wise dispose of, as the said Commissioners of the Customs 

 or the said Lords of the said Committee may direct, any 

 Oysters imported into or landed in any part of the United 

 Kingdom, contrary to the Provisions of this Act. 



III. The Master or person in charge of any British 

 Vessel, on board which any such Oysters or any such 

 Dredge or other Implement for catching Oysters are found, 

 at any such time as aforesaid, or in or from which any such 

 Oysters are landed at any such time as aforesaid, contrary 

 to the Provisions of this Act, shall be deemed guilty of an 

 Offence against the said Articles, and shall on conviction 

 be liable to a Penalty of not less than Eight Shillings or 

 more than Three Pounds, or to be imprisoned, with or 

 without hard labour, for any time not less than two days 

 and not longer than ten days, and if convicted more than 

 once, then upon any second or subsequent conviction to a 

 Penalty of not more than Six Pounds, or to be imprisoned, 

 with or without Hard Labour, for any time not longer than 

 Twenty Days. 



IV. It shall be lawful for any British Consul, exer- 

 cising his functions in any port or place in France where 

 any person, being a subject of Her Majesty, is brought 

 under the Provisions of the said Articles, charged with any 

 Offence against the said Articles, or against any Rule or 

 By-law made under the said Act, to take any Statement 

 on oath (which oath such Consul is hereby authorized to 

 administer) of any person who may be produced before the 

 Consul for that purpose, concerning the facts or circum- 

 stances of the case, and to put the same into writing ; and 

 every such Statement as aforesaid shall be taken and put 

 into writing, in the presence of the person charged, and 

 shall be read over to him, and, where not made in English, 

 shall be interpreted to him ; and the person charged (by 



