704 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



same. That from henceforth noe manner of pson whatsoever do 

 hale or drawe any pilchards or other frye or small fish (unless for 

 baite or food) out of any of the bayes or other places belonging to 

 these Islands as aforesaid. And the rather for that it is a greate 

 reliefe being taken only for baite to bring in sea fishe, and otherwise 

 a greate losse, especially in tyme of scarceitye of corne. And it is 

 further enacted by the power and authority aforesaid, that noe man 

 of what quality so ever shall hale or drawe in any bay or about any 

 Island wth any long netts any manner of breames, to the distruccon 

 and fraying of the greate fishe from shoare, but only wth netts of 

 Tenn fathom long at the most, in forfeiture of the said netts soe used 

 to be sould, and converted to genrall uses of the plantacon." 



Capt. John Smith, in 1629, says that there were "lish enough but 

 not so much near the shore as it used." 



A law was passed Jan., 16*77, against taking "White-bone 

 Porgaye " when schooling in April and Ma}^, except for immediate 

 family use. Modern laws, regulating and restricting the methods of 

 fishing, have been in force for many years, and have, without doubt, 

 been very useful in preserving some of the most valuable fishes.* 



Although the records are rather indefinite, there can be no doubt 

 whatever that the larger and more important fishes decreased very 

 rapidly during the first 20 years of the settlement, and probably 

 they continued to decrease more gradually during all the 17th and 

 18th centuries, because during that time the inhabitants used fish 

 very largely as food, there being but little meat- or fish imported. 

 Moreover, there was a considerable fishery carried on in the 18th 

 century for the export trade with the West Indies. The fishes 

 exported are said to have been mostly Hamlet Groupers (Epinephelus 

 striatus), but probably various other large fishes were taken for this 

 purpose, especially the several species of Rockfishes (as Myctero- 

 perca bonaci, M. tiyris, M. falcata, pi. xcv), and the large Hogfish 

 {Lachnolaimus maximus, fig. 55). The latter was evidently very 



* During the months of May, June, July, and August, it is illegal to catch any 

 fish with a net of less than a four inch mesh — excepting turtle, cast, or fry nets, 

 the use of which, for their respective purposes, is not prohibited. The catching 

 of Oysters and Scallops is illegal during the same months. Harrington Sound is 

 prohibited water the year round for any other than a cast-net. used to take fish. 

 The selling of Rockfish and Hogfish under 2 lbs.; Porgy ami Hamlet under 1 lb.: 

 Shad, Bream, Yellow Grunt, Chub, and Mullet under ."> inches in length is 

 illegal. Turtles (except the Hawksbill) must not be taken if under 10 lbs. in 

 weight, save for the purpose of stocking turtle ponds. The destruction of fish 

 in inland waters by explosives is prohibited. 



