FISHES AND FISHING. 289 



navigable up to Byfleet ; over that, the Wey naviga 

 tion proprietors never had any exclusive right, and if, 

 by the purchase of the land through which the cut was 

 made above Weybridge Bridge, they in the commence 

 ment had any such right over the canal so cut above 

 that Bridge, they have never exercised it, as I can 

 prove, for seventy-five years ; and as the best part 

 for angling is in the parish of Chertsey, the au- 

 ^horities of that parish should take immediate steps 

 to prevent the rights of the parishioners from being 

 deteriorated. 



In 1509, in an Act passed for repealing a former 

 Act, which was supposed to have an injurious ten 

 dency to the interests of fishermen, it is stated, 

 " that fish are much behoveful, and necessary to the com 

 mon weal of this realm.'' 



First of Henry VIII. states, "That days and 

 meats are indifferent according to the gospel, but that 

 abstinence from flesh meat is a mean to virtue, and 

 to subdue men's bodies to their soul and spirit." 



The 2nd and 3rd of Edward VI. imposed penal 

 ties on persons eating flesh on fish days ; for the first 

 offence a fine of ten shillings, and ten days' imprison 

 ment, and abstinence from flesh during the whole of 

 that period ; for the second offence the penalty and 

 other punishments were double. The sick and aged 

 could obtain licenses to eat meat. In 1562 the penal- 



