ON THE CHANNEL-FISHERIES, 67 



ON THE CHANNEL-FISHERIES ON THE COAST OF 



DEVON AND CORNWALL. 



1 he defects and abuses of the law with regard 

 to the channel-fisheries are as detrimental to the 

 public interest as are those which we have just 

 examined on a similar subject. I will adopt the 

 same mode of enquiry as has been pursued with 

 regard to the salmon-fisheries : — endeavouring to 

 point out where the defects lie — how the laws 

 are abused — and in what respect they ought to 

 be amended A very few prefatory observations 

 will, however, be necessary. 



It is well known that all sea-fish deposit their roe 

 in creeks, bays, and shallow water, near the shore ; 

 because a certain, though a very small degree of 

 the sun's vivifying power is absolutely necessary 

 to bring such roe to maturity. This is not 

 only a truth established by the observation and 

 experiments of scientific men, but we have legis- 

 lative authority in its behalf/ By the 3 Jac. I. 

 c. 12. entitled, An Act for the better Preservation 

 of Sea-fish, it is stated in the preamble, " For- 

 " asmuch as it is certainly known by daily ex- 

 " perience, that the brood of sea-fish is spawned 

 " and lieth in still waters, where it may have to 

 " receive nourishment, and grow to perfection ; and 



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