l6'4 best's art of angling. 



in length sixteen inches fish ; nor anj tront 

 not being in -'ength eiglit inches fish; nor any bar- 

 bel not beinain leii2:th twelve inches : and no ue.r- 

 son shall fish, or take iish^ by any device, but 

 only with a net or trammel, vviiereol' the mesh 

 shasi be two inches and a halF broad, (an.gii]ig 

 excepted, and except smelts, lot hes, minnows, 

 bill! heads, gudgeons, and. eels;) on pain of for- 

 feiting 20s. for every offence, and also the fish, 

 nets, and engines. No^e. fo some editions of 

 tj:>e statutes it is 20l. in others 20s.- in the records 

 it is n.ot distinguishable whether it is pounds or 

 shi iii ngs. The latter seems more adeq uate to the 

 oiFence. 



And the conservators of rivers may enquire 

 hereof by a jurv .; and in sucii case they shall 

 have the fines. 



The leet also mny c:nquire hereof; and then 

 the forfeiture sliali go to the lord of the leet. 

 And if the stevvju-d do not charge the iurv there- 

 with lie shall forfeit 40s. haif to the king, and 

 half to him that shall sue» And if the jury con- 

 ceal the ofience, lie may impannel another jury 

 to enquire of such concealment: aad if it is 

 found, the former jury shall forfeit every one 

 20s. to the lord of the leet. 



And if the offence is not presented in the leet 

 within a year, then it may be heard or deter- 

 mined at the sessions or assizes, (saving the right 

 c onservators.) 



And by the 33 G. 2. 3. £7. No person shall 

 take, cr knowingly have in his ^possession, either 

 in the or water on shore, or sell or expose to sale, 

 any spawn, fry, or brood of fish, or any unsizeable 

 iish, or fisli out cf season, or any smelt not five 

 inches long : and any person may seize tiiC same, 

 together w ith. baskets and package, and charge 



