FISHES AND FISHING. 267 



The laws regulating the size of fish allowed to be 

 killed, it is proper to notice. 



By 1st of Elizabeth, cap. xvii., nvpike to be, taken 

 under ten inches, from the eye to the end of the flesh 

 in the middle of the tail : salmon, sixteen inches : 

 trout, eight inches : and barbel, twelve inches ; all 

 measured in the above manner. 



By 3d George II., cap. xxi., roach not to be 

 taken in the Thames under eight inches; or dace 

 under six inches, measured in the above manner. 

 Where there is one taken of the legal size, there are 

 tens of thousands taken under four or five inches, 

 which are useless as articles of food, but are thought 

 much of by Cockney anglers. 



By 33d George II., cap. xxvii., no person shall 

 take, or have in his possession, on water or on shore, 

 or sell, or expose for sale, any unsizable fish, or fish 

 out of season ; nor any smelt less than five inches long, 

 measured as above : and any person may seize all 

 such unsizable fish, or fish out of season, with the 

 baskets and package, and charge a constable with the 

 offender, and the fish, basket, and package to be 

 taken before a justice of the peace ; and on convic 

 tion, the whole goods to be delivered to the prose 

 cutor, and the offender shall, besides, forfeit twenty 

 shillings, half to the poor of the parish, and the other 

 half to the prosecutor ; and in default of payment, 



