228 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



nine parishes combining to send up a petition, wherein they set 

 forth that whatever might be the temporary advantage gained 

 to commerce, it would be an ultimate loss to the agricultural 

 interest; it would, moreover, be an unwarrantable innovation 

 regarding one of the distinguishing characteristics of the island, 

 and perpetrate a mischief never to be repaired. Eegarding 

 these petitions, the records show that the Royal Court, after 

 having heard the various arguments pro and con, and the con- 

 clusions of the Crown officers, passed an Act confirming and 

 strengthening the time-honoured custom, forbidding the im- 

 portation of bulls, cows, and heifers from foreign ports, under a 

 penalty of 21. sterling for each animal, and its entire confisca- 

 tion, the said fine to be applied one quarter to the Crown, one 

 quarter to the poor, and the half to the informer. It was 

 further ordered that the said Act should be published in the 

 market, and affixed to the other market laws, that no person 

 might pretend ignorance of the same. 



A few years later it would appear that a suspicion or fear 

 was aroused on account of cattle from France having been per- 

 mitted to be imported for slaughtering purposes, the said cattle 

 being kept alive too long, and allowed to associate with the 

 Guernseys. The inhabitants, therefore, to prevent the possibility 

 of the foreigners being used for breeding, again petitioned the 

 Royal Court, praying that, unless stringent measures were 

 adopted to prevent the said mixture of bulls, cows, and heifers 

 of other countries with those of the island, Guernsey cattle 

 would not long be superior to other breeds. In response to 

 this petition we find the Court avowing its appreciation of the 

 value set upon the purity of the Guernsey breed, and their 

 concurrence in the opinion that it was mainly attributable to 

 the unremitting attention and jealous care of the inhabitants 

 that Guernsey cattle were so renowned, and therefore decreed : 



1. That all individuals possessing cows, heifers, calves, or 

 bulls imported from France, should, within eight days of the 

 passing of said decree, make a declaration in writing to the 

 high constables of their respective parishes, under a penalty of 

 the confiscation of the said animals, also a fine, at the discretion 

 of justice, not exceeding 20L sterling ; and that a copy of said 

 declaration be deposited at the registrar's office. 



