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OYSTER FISHERY LEGISLATION. 



since 1868 gives us the impression that, generally speaking 

 companies have not as yet been successful ; whilst there is 

 no doubt that sea fishermen who do not belong to any 

 company, private owners, and the companies themselves 

 are all at variance with each other. Independent fishermen 

 loudly complain both of owners and companies, whilst 

 private owners have a grievance against companies, and 

 also against the actions of the fishermen on the common 

 grounds that are left. 



The rio-hts of fishing in the territorial waters of the 



O O 



kingdom were confirmed to the sea fishermen of England 

 by a provision of Magna Charta : these rights have been 

 undoubtedly interfered with by the enclosure of certain 

 waters. Whilst we are ready to grant that when the 

 deprivations were sanctioned by the Legislature the pro- 

 moters of the policy were able to hold out good prospects 

 of advancing the general good, those prospects have no t 

 been fulfilled. We therefore think the time has come for 

 a general investigation into the complaints of public fisher- 

 men against the concessionaires under the Sea Fisheries 

 Act of 1868, with a view to a reversal of the policy that 

 constitutes a direct infringement of the privileges conceded 

 to our ancestors more than six centuries ago, without 

 apparently any compensating advantage having accrued 

 to the public. 



As recently as September i, 1879, Messrs. Buckland 

 and Walpole recommended that inspectors should be em- 

 powered, with the authority of the Board of Trade, or the 

 Secretary of State, to allot small portions of the foreshore 

 or sea bottom to fishermen for oyster and mussel cultiva- 

 tion ; to ascertain by inspection the result of such 

 allotments, and to withdraw or continue them to the 

 allottees as might seem desirable, reporting their decision 



