162 NEW SOUTH WALES 



The chief protective, regulative, and penal provisions of the Act are 

 shown in the subjoined summary : — 



SUMMARY OF THE FISHERIES ACT, 1881.* 

 Fishing Nets. 



In all Tidal-Water Fisheries, that is to say, all sea-fisheries on the 

 coast, unless during the close months or where the fisheries are abso- 

 lutely closed against fishing-nets of every kind, a lawful net may be of 

 a length sufficient to enclose a space of 300 yards measured along the 

 corks, but must not have a meshi in the bunt less than 2^ inches or 

 3 inches in each wing. But bojia Jide garfish nets (if used during the 

 ojjen months, or elsewhere than in a fishery absolutely closed under 

 section 17) will not be illegal if each wing is equal in length to the 

 bunt, and if the mesh in each wing is not less than 2 inches, the bunt 

 and wings being hung on the same cork and lead lines; but such gar- 

 fish nets must not in the bunt exceed 30 fathoms in length, or have in 

 the bunt a mesh less than \^ inch. Prcoion nets will be legal, under 

 the same limitations as to time and place, if they do not exceed 15 

 fathoms in length, or do not have a mesh less than 1 inch. 



The new Act contains a saving clause in favour of nets which under 

 the old Acts would be legal during the "winter months"; that is to 

 say, nets of 1;^ ioich mesh in the hunt and of 2 inches mesh in the 

 wings — the hunt being limited to ?>0 fatlioms and each loing to the same 

 length — may be used up to the 31st July, 1882, for the purpose of 

 catching garfish only ; but such nets must not be used in Close Fisheries 

 during the close months, nor used at all in fisheries absolutely closed 

 against net fishing of every kind under section 1 7. 



Stalling is prohibited at all times and places, but bona fide meshing 

 nets not exceeding 60 fathoms in length, and not less than i, inches in 

 the mesh, are permitted if not set during the close months in any close 

 fishery, or in any fishery absolutely closed under section 1 7. 



Drift nets and purse seines of any length or mesh may be used in the 

 open sea, i.e., outside the mouths or limits of any bay, river, or inlet. 



For Inland Waters a net may be aiiy length, but must not be less in 

 the mesh than 3 inches, and must not to be set v)holly across a river or 

 creek, but this restriction does not apply to nets used in private fisheries. 



Close Season for Net Fish. 



The Act provides a close season extending from the first of April to 

 the thirtieth of September in each year, during which no nets must be 

 used in any tidal waters proclaimed by the Governor, under a penalty 

 not exceeding £50 and not less than £10. Tidal waters within any 

 areas so proclaimed are termed "Close Fisheries." 



* The restrictive and penal provisions in the Act did not come into force until 

 the sixtieth day after its passing , i.e., the 5th June, ISSl. 



tThe mesh of a net is to be measured diagnonally, and not fi'om knot to knot 

 along each side of the square, as is the rule in England and other countries. 



