HISTORY OF THK OYSTER. 



CHAPTER IL 



LAWS EELATING TO OTSTEE EISHEEIES. 



The earliest Act of Parliament relating to fisheries, 

 that I am aware of, was passed in the third year of 

 the reign of James I. chap. 12. There was also an 

 Act passed in the 13th and 14th years of the reign 

 of Charles II. chap. 28. After this, the next Act re- 

 lating to fisheries appears to be the 1st of George I. 

 chap. 18 ; but none of these Acts relate, except in 

 general terms, to oysters. 



An Act of Parliament relating to oyster-fisheries 

 appears to have been passed in the 31st year of the 

 reign of George III., chap. 51, which has been re- 

 pealed by one passed in the 28th year of the reign 

 of George IV., chap. 29, which enacts, "That if any 

 person shall steal any oyster or oyster-brood from 

 any oyster-bed, laying, or fishery, being the pro- 

 perty of any other person, and sufficiently marked 

 out or known as such, every such offender shall be 

 deemed guilty of larceny, and being convicted thereof 

 shall be punished accordingly. And if any person 

 shall unlawfully and wilfidly use any dredge, or any 



