THE FISHERIES LAWS. 33 



Stalling is proliibited at all times and places, but bona fide 

 meshing-nets not exceeding 60 fathoms in length, and not 

 less than 4 inches in the mesh, are permitted if not set during 

 the close months in any close fishery, or in any fishery abso- 

 lutely closed against netting. 



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. 



Eor inland waters nets may be any length, but must not 

 be less in the mesh than 3 inches, and must not be set wholly 

 across a river or creek, but this restriction does not apply to 

 nets used in private fisheries. These provisions have been 

 modified by those of a later enactment — the Inland Waters 

 Fisheries Act of 1887. 



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 nets may not be used in tidal waters proclaimed as 

 closed, under penalty not exceeding £50, and not less than 

 £10. Tidal waters within areas so proclaimed are termed 

 " Close Pisheries." 



CLOSED FISHERIES. 



Net-fishing of any kind is illegal also in tidal waters pro- 

 claimed closed against net-fishing, for any specified period. 



LICENSES. 



A license for every fishing boat has to 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. 



Fishermen must also take out an annual license, subject 

 to like reduction for the broken period of the year ; the fee 

 is 10s. 



PRAWN -FISHING. 



The riddling of prawns is only allowed while the prawns 

 are alive. 



In the river Hunter an annual close season is made 

 absolute, and in any other river an annual close season 

 extending from the first of June to the thirtieth of September 

 may be established by proclamation. 



