THE FISHERIES. J6 



not the better for it ; but as already observed, the 

 distance from the salt-water to the weir, is at all 

 times run up rapidly. 



A practical observation or two, may here be made 

 respecting some peculiar localities on the sea-coast, 

 in which those fixed ensrines are sometimes erected, 

 and in which the use of them has a most prejudicial 

 effect upon the fisheries, and for which a remedy is 

 provided in the Bill. The enablmg words of the 

 Statute are, that such engines may be erected *' at- 

 tached to the shore" adjoining the land, in right of 

 which the engine is erected ; but under this power 

 fixed-nets have been erected from the ends of piers, 

 and artificial breakwaters, projecting perhaps a mile 

 or more, into the sea. A provision is made in the 

 present Bill, to prevent this practice, which is an 

 abuse of the enabling power ; and we proceed to 

 show why this may be considered to be a judicious 

 and proper restriction. When a fixed-net is erected 

 from the extremity of a pier, the pier acts as leader 

 to the net, and it is to all intents and purposes the 

 same with respect to it, as if the cm'tain, or leader 

 of the net itself, was of similar length with the pier, 

 which may, perhaps, be a mile or more. This gives 

 the fixed-net so circumstanced an overwhelming ad- 

 vanmge ; its capture is most destructive, and it en- 

 grosses, and monopohzes, or, so to speak, takes the 

 wind out of the sails, of all fixed-nets in the same 

 locality, properly and legally erected. We omit to 

 take any notice of the injury to navigation, which 



