32 THE FISHERIES LAWS. 



relating to oyster fisheries, which has been repealed, is for 

 the most part the law by which the fisheries are at present 

 controlled, and it is, without doubt, the first formal attempt 

 at comprehensive legislation based on the principle of pro- 

 tecting the natural supplies of fish, oysters, lobsters, and 

 prawns, and of regulating and controlling their capture. The 

 administrative authority, subject to the customary Executive 

 control, is a body of five Commissioners aj)pointed by the 

 Governor-in- Council, whose term of ofiice is five years, and 

 whose jurisdiction extends over the entire territory. The 

 fisheries on the seaboard are distributed into three divisions 

 — the Home, the Northern, and the Southern fisheries ; in 

 one or other of which divisions every marine Eishery is con- 

 tained. The regular supervision of these divisions is made 

 the duty of inspectors and assistant inspectors ; and, in addi- 

 tion to the regular staff, certain Government officials are, by 

 the Act, created inspectors ex officio. The inspectors and 

 assistant inspectors are required to report periodically to the 

 Commissioners, as to the state of the fisheries included within 

 their respective districts. Most extensive powers to frame 

 regulations on all matters of detail are vested in the Governor- 

 in-Council. 



The chief protective, regulative, and penal provisions of 

 the Act are shown in the subjoined summary : — 



nSHINa-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 absolutely closed for an extended term 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 mesh in the bunt less than 2J 

 inches or 3 inches in each wing. But bona fide garfish nets, 

 if used during the open months, or elscAvhere than in a 

 fishery absolutely closed, are not illegal 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* garfish 

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

 bave in the bunt a mesh less than 1^- inch. Prawn nets 

 are 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. 



