THE LAW AS TO SALMON-FISHING 245 



the reason for their suppression in that river was not 

 only on the account of the obstructions which they 

 caused to navigation, but also on account of the 

 numbers of fry which they were the means of destroy- 

 ing. It was ordained in a statute passed in the 

 reign of Henry VI. that ' standing nets and engines 

 called " trinks," and all other nets which are wont to 

 be fastened and hanged continually day and night to 

 great posts, boats, and anchors overthwart the river 

 Thames and other rivers of the realm, which standing 

 is a cause of as great and more destruction of the 

 brood and fry of fish and disturbance of the common 

 passage of vessels, as be the wears and kyddels or any 

 other engines, be wholly defended for ever ; provided 

 always, that it shall be lawful to the possessors of the 

 said " trinks " to fish with them, drawing and pulling 

 them by hand as other fishers do with other nets, and 

 not fastening or tacking the said nets to posts, boats, 

 or anchors continually to stand as aforesaid.' Again, 

 in the reign of Henry VIII., the use of ceitain 

 engines, composed of ' stakes, piles, and other things,' 

 was forbidden in the Ouse and Humber ' by persons 

 studying only for their own private lucre, not regard- 

 ing the Common weal, by reason whereof not only 

 ships and boats were daily in jeopardy, but also broode 

 and fry of fishe in those rivers be commonly thereby 



