392 REGULATIONS OF THE LOCAL SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEES. 



Lancashire District. — Trammel nets are prohibited. The regula- 

 tions for stake nets are generally similar to those in force in the 

 Western District, but the distance from other stake nets must be 

 150 yards. There is also a somewhat curious bye-law, which reads 

 as follows : — " No person shall use, in fishing for mackerel or 

 herring, any stake net except at the times and places at which, 

 and in tlie manner in which, such nets have been heretofore 

 commonly used for the capture of such fish respectively." 



Smelt or Sparling. 



In the Northumberland District there are no restrictions. In the 

 North-eastern sparling nets may be used only between July 21st and 

 March 21st, and mesh of net must not be less than six-tenths of an 

 inch from knot to knot.^' 



In the Eastern District the nets must have not more than 24 

 knots to the foot, and they may not be used between April 1st and 

 August 31st, 



In the Kent and Essex District the net must have not more than 

 72 rows of knots to the yard, and must not be more than 60 fathoms 

 lomr. 



On the south coasts of England and Wales there are no restrictions. 



In the Western District {west coast of Wales) the mesh of the net 

 must allow a square gauge with each side f inch long to pass through, 

 whilst in Lancashire the fish may only be taken with seine or draft net, 

 the size of mesh is increased to one inch, and the fish may not be 

 caught between April 1st and October 31st. 



Crabs and Lobsters. 



In considering the regulations relating to crabs and lobsters, it must 

 be borne in mind that the Eisheries (Oyster, Crab, and Lobster) Act, 

 1877, applies to the whole country, and makes it illegal to take, have in 

 possession, sell or expose for sale, any edible crab which measures less 

 than 4} inches across the broadest part of the back (except when for 

 use as bait) ; or any edible crab carrying spawn attached to the tail ; or 

 any edible crab which has recently cast its shell ; or any lobster which 

 measures less than eight inches from the tip of the beak to the end 

 of the tail, when spread out fiat. 



The Sea Fisheries Committees have made the following additional 

 regulations in their respective districts : — 



Northumberland District. — No additional restrictions. 



* There is also a restriction as to the nature of the material of which the net is made. 



