FISH AND FISHERIES. 163 



Closed Fisheries. 

 Net-fishing of any kind is illegal in any tidal waters proclaimed by 

 the Governor to be closed against such net-fishing, for the period 

 specified by the Act. 



Licenses, 



A license for every fishing boat must be taken out annually — the 

 license fee being £1 ; but, after the thirtieth of June the fee is reduced 

 to 10s. for the remainder of the year. 



Every fisherman must take out an annnal license, subject to the like 

 reduction for the broken period of the year ; the fee is 10s., but subject 

 to the same reduction. 



Prawn-fishing. 



The riddling of prawns is only allowed while the prawns are alive. 



In the river Hunter, and in any other river proclaimed by the 

 Governor, an annual close season is or will be established. It extends 

 from ih.Q first of June to the thirtieth of September. 



Torpedoes, Dynamite, kc. 



The use of tori^edoes, dynamite, or jjoisonoics matter in any waters is 

 prohibited under a penalty not exceeding £40 nor less than £10. The 

 prohibition, however, does not extend to persons lawfully authorized to 

 explode torpedoes or dynamite. 



Unmarketable Fish. 



It is unlawful to sell, or expose for sale, or be in possession of any 

 fish under the respective weights specified in the Second Schedule to the 

 Act or prescribed by the Regulations, The prohibition does not, how- 

 ever, extend to collectors, owners of private fisheries, persons in posses- 

 sion of fish not intended for sale, or aboriginals, under certain conditions. 



Oyster Fisheries, 



After validating the holdings, or premises of leases, acquired by certain 

 persons under the " Oyster Beds Act of 1868," subject to their com- 

 pliance with regulations for the management of the natural oyster-beds 

 comprised in such holdings or promises, and forfeiture on default, the 

 Act proceeds to the important subject of 



Oyster Leases, 



Of these there are two descriptions : — 



(1.) The first, long leases of shore and beds of tidal waters, may 

 include an area not exceeding 25 acres. The tevva must not 

 exceed thirty years, or be less t\\^\\ fourteen years. 



The rent is 5s. per acre for the first four years, and £1 jier acre for 

 the remainder of the term. No natural oyster-bed can be 

 included in a lease, and no right is acquired by the lessee to 

 the occupation of the shore (except so much as may be included 

 in the area leased) unless for certain specified purposes. 



No portion of the shore fronting private land can be included in a 

 lease. 



