REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 80 



inure one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half thereof 

 to the use of the state. 



Sec. 10. The several district courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction 

 with the common pleas division of the supreme court over all offences 

 under this act, and to the full extent of the penalties therein specified : 

 parties defendant, however, having the same right to appeal from the 

 sentences of said district courts as is now provided in law in other crimi- 

 nal cases. 



Sec. 11. Sections 8, 0, and 10 of Chapter 173 of the General Laws, enti- 

 tled " Of certain fisheries," and also Chapter 316 of the Public Laws, and 

 all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 



Sec. 12. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. 



The deputies appointed to enforce the provision of this law 

 have been actively engaged in this work during- the past two 

 years. 



A large number of short lobsters have been returned to the 

 water, many of these having been shipped into the State from 

 abroad. A much greater number probably never have been 

 brought to shore, which, except for the enforcement of the law, 

 would have been sold. It is, in the nature of the case, impossible 

 to determine accurately the benefit of this or any other protective 

 measure ; but the general opinion of the best class of lobster fish- 

 ermen, dealers, and others interested is that the benefit is worth 

 the effort. It is still very much to be regretted that the provision 

 and enforcement of the lobster law are not the same in adjoining- 

 States. The present differences give rise to much jealousy, and are 

 the cause of much actual injustice to the fishermen on the border 

 line between adjoining States. Uniformity in legislation and en- 

 forcement of lobster laws is greatly to be desired. 



