FISHERY LAWS 121 



of drag-nets, the minimum size of saleable fish, and 

 the distance from the shore to be observed by the 

 off-shore trawlers. The South of France became 

 greatly excited ; there was a strong feeling everywhere ; 

 and many of the courts were charitable enough to 

 acquit the offenders. The system of supervision is 

 at fault, being badly organised, despite the majestic 

 machinery instituted by the decrees. Among the sub- 

 ordinate agents that is, among those who are in close 

 and constant contact with the fishermen are some 

 who are appointed by the suffrages of their comrades. 

 I am afraid their authority is insufficient. In 1898 the 

 Chamber of Commerce of Boulogne demanded the 

 creation of a local police, like that of Martigues, 

 Cette, Porte-Vendres, Arcachon, and Douarnenez, 

 equipped with boats manned by armed naval crews. 

 It also demanded that the nautical guards (gardes 

 maritimes), then scattered along the coast, should be 

 grouped in the smaller administrative centres (chefs-lieux 

 de quartier). 



It is always the case that as the complaints of the 

 fishermen respecting the scarcity of fish become more 

 numerous and more vehement, so the regulations are 

 more numerous and more stringent. To take an 

 example : the sailing trawl (gangui a la voile) of the 

 Mediterranean is an extremely destructive device, con- 

 structed on the model of the ox- trawl (filet bceuf). The 

 decree of 1862 had authorised it, so long as the meshes 

 were at least i inch in diameter. The measure was 

 apparently conciliatory ; but protests were made. Drag- 

 nets, however, had energetic champions, and the 

 administration temporised. Of this we may judge by 

 the following extracts from the decree of October 9, 

 1890 : 



