114 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
trawl fishing, defining the size of mesh, the length of beam, the weights of head- 
pieces and of ground rope, and the distance trawlers may fish from boats engaged 
in drift netting for herring or mackerel. Articles 27 to 35 regulate the herring 
. fishery, defining the size of mesh in nets, the manner of shooting the nets by 
decked and undecked boats, respectively, and the distance at which these boats 
should remain apart when fishing. Articles 36 to 40 regulate the mackerel 
fishery in a manner somewhat similar to the preceding articles. Articles 41 to 
44 regulate the fishing with bratt nets, trammel nets, and other set or anchored 
nets. Articles 45 to 49 regulate oyster fishing, establishing close time from 
May 1 to August 31, and from sunset to sunrise in the remaining months, and 
requiring the fishermen to throw back on the reefs all oysters measuring less 
than 2'% inches in length, and also all gravel, shell fragments, ete. Articles 50 
to 54 define the flags, lights, and signals to be displayed by fishing boats. 
Articles 55 to 60 supplement several of the foregoing provisions respecting size 
of mesh in nets and noninterference with nets belonging to other fishermen. 
Articles 61 and 62 relate to the salvage of fishing boats, nets, gear, etc. Articles 
63 to 75 provide means for enforcing these regulations by the cruisers and 
agents of the two countries, the summary proceedings before magistrates, and 
the fines and penalties that may be imposed. Articles 76 to 86 define the 
conditions and circumstances under which the fishing boats of either of the 
two countries are at liberty to come within the territorial limits of the other 
country. Article 87 forbids the shooting of herring nets earlier than half an 
hour before sunset, except where it is customary to carry on this drift-net 
fishing by daylight. Article 88 deals with fishing on the Sabbath day “ within 
the fishery limits of either country.’ Sunday fishing outside of these limits 
was not prohibited by these regulations, and as the fifth article interdicted 
the subjects of one country from fishing within the limits of another country 
at any time, the purpose of this article is not clear. Article 89 authorizes the 
commanders of the cruisers and also all fishery officers of each of the two coun- 
tries to enforce the above regulations. 
These regulations were enacted into law in Great Britain (6 and 7 Vict., 
ch. 79), dated August 22, 1843, and in France by royal ordinance of June 27, 1846. 
It is generally admitted that the terms of the convention of 1839, of the 
pursuant regulations of 1843, and of the legislative enactments adopted in 
connection therewith were defective and ambiguous. Owing to difference of 
opinion as to the limits in which they were applicable, as well as to their severe 
conflict with the fishery laws then operative in British territorial waters (Geo. I, 
ch. 18), the convention regulations were never enforced. It was claimed by 
some authorities that the words “the seas lying between the coasts of Great 
Britain and of France” should be construed strictly, and referred only to the 
English Channel; but it was held by others—and probably with greater reason— 
that this phrase comprised all the seas about the British coasts, including those 
off the eastern and even the northern coast of Scotland. And many of the 
