6i 



sum of Six Hundred Pounds to he brought only from 

 Shoreham, Portsmouth or Pool. Any person that chooses 

 to go for them, may have One Pound sixteen shillings 

 upon a Wash, but must be delivered in good condition 

 fit to lay on the grounds, and also delivered by the 

 In-Ground Tub upon the Shalls at Whitstable in Kent." 



As an evidence of the great care then 



Poaching. necessarv to be taken to prevent poaching 



and injury to the beds, the following notice in the 



Kentish Gazette, dated August iQth to 23rd, 1769, affords 



information : 



" Manor of Whitstable and Royalty of Oyster Fishery 

 within the said Manor. Whereas many disorderly persons 

 have made a common Practise of Trawling, Dredging, 

 Fishing, and anchoring their vessels on the abovesaid 

 Oyster Grounds, belonging to the Right Honourable 

 Frederick Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, whereby many 

 oyster and other shell-fish have been taken and carried 

 away, and the soil broke up and disturbed, to the great 

 detriment of the said Oyster Grounds and Company of 

 Freemen of the said Fishery. This is therefore to give 

 Notice, that whoever is found Trawling, Dredging, <_. 

 Fishing on the said Oyster Grounds, and shall refuse 

 paying Anchorage to the Water Bailiff, according to 

 ancient Custom of the said Manor, will be prosecuted at 

 the utmost Rigour of the Law." 



It must be confessed that the head- 



I""' 6 " shore of this im P rtant 

 company are not particularly attractive 



to the seeker of architectural beauty. A few years ago the old 

 building, which may have been interesting to the anti- 

 quary, was removed, and a substantial looking plain brick 



