608 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



turbed, or their young destroyed before they have attained 

 maturity." The French fishing vessels were more numerous 

 and larger than the English boats, between two and three 

 hundred coming from Boulogne alone, and they had caused 

 great injury to the nets and gear of the English fishermen, 

 especially in the herring and mackerel seasons. At other 

 times of the year it was proved that they were in the habit 

 of coming in great numbers every morning into English bays, 

 and dragging there for bait in the shallow waters close upon 

 the shore, taking and destroying an immense quantity of 

 young and unsizeable fish, at periods when they were prevented 

 by French laws from conducting similar operations in their 

 own bays. 1 These laws, the Committee reported, were under- 

 stood to be enforced also against English fishermen within 

 three leagues of the coast of France; on approaching nearer 

 they were warned off by French cruisers, and told that they 

 would not be allowed to fish within that distance. 



The Committee considered it to be proved that the scarcity 

 of fish in the Channel (with the exception of herrings and 

 mackerel) had been occasioned by the great destruction of 

 the spawn and brood of fish in the shallow waters. They 

 recommended as remedies for the evil "that foreign fisher- 

 men should be prevented at all seasons of the year from 

 fishing within one league, or such other distance of the Eng- 

 lish coast, as by the law or usage of nations is considered to 

 belong exclusively to this country," and that they should 

 also be required to observe, during the spawning or breeding 

 .season of fish, all such laws or regulations as might be im- 

 posed upon English fishermen for the better preservation of 

 the spawn and brood of fish in the bays and shallow waters 

 on the coast. 2 In order to accomplish these objects, they 



1 An ordinance of the French Marine Department, of 15th January 1829, pro- 

 hibited the use of certain nets, as drag and trawl nets, within three leagues of the 

 shore from 15th April to 1st September, and within two leagues from 1st September 

 to 15th April. 



2 Some of the English fishery Acts then in force, at least nominally, extended 

 jurisdiction beyond the distance of one league with regard to the use of certain 

 nets, &c., and the Committee apparently desired that, besides a zone of exclusive 

 fishery, foreigners should be bound to observe the municipal law for the protection 

 of the spawn and brood of fish that might apply beyond such zone. The Acts 

 referred to were 3 Jac. I., c. 12 (1605), for the better preservation of sea fish, 





