59 
of the Wyre so suitable for mussel fattening that if they 
could only be leased and secured to the fishermen, they 
would bring in a large revenue. Many years ago, when 
Mr. John Bright was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan- 
caster, I brought this question before him, and he entered 
into it, but unfortunately he resigned office, and as I had no 
influence with his successor, the matter fell through, but 
surely our County Council might do something. 
Mr. Dawson now suggests the same idea, but his plan 1S 
to make the fishermen dependent even for this privilege on 
himself and his colleagues. Why cannot the Duchy of 
Lancaster lease the foreshore for this purpose direct to the 
fishermen? Better in my opinion even be without the 
privilege than put the fishermen still further under this 
authority. I have named several times the cruel and incon- 
siderate way in which the bye-laws are enforced. I givea 
sample, too bad to allow the magistrates to convict, copied 
from the local papers. 
The report in the Ulverston News of April 8th, 1899, 
is as follows :— : 
Before Mr. E. Wadham (chairman), Mr. B. B. Gardner, 
. and Mr. W. R. Nash. 
Removinc UNDERSIZED MUSSELS AT ALDINGHAM: 
A Victory FOR THE FISHERMEN.—James Porter, Robert 
Porter, John Shaw, and Edward Martin were charged 
at the instance of the Lancashire Sea Fishery Board 
with removing from a certain fishery on the 2oth 
