FISHES AND FISHING. 289 



navigable up to Byfleet ; over that, the Wey naviga- 

 tion proprietors never had any exclusive right, and if, 

 by the purchase of the land through which the cut was 

 made above Wey bridge Bridge, they in the commence- 

 ment had any such right over the canal so cut above 

 that Bridge, they have never exercised it, as I can 

 prove, for seventy-five years ; and as the best part 

 for angling is in the parish of Chertsey, the au- 

 thorities of that parish should take immediate steps 

 to prevent the rights of the parishioners from being 

 deteriorated. 



In 1509, in an Act passed for repealing a former 

 Act, which was supposed to have an injurious ten- 

 dency to the interests of fishermen, it is stated, 

 ** that fish are much behoveful, and necessary to the com- 

 mon weal of this realms 



First of Henry VIII. states, *'That days and 

 meats are indiiferent according to the gospel, but that 

 abstinence from flesh meat is a mean to virtue, and 

 to subdue men's bodies to their soul and spirit." 



The 2nd and 3rd of Edward VI. imposed penal- 

 ties on persons eating flesh on fish days ; for the first 

 offence a fine of ten shillings, and ten days' imprison- 

 ment, and abstinence from flesh during the whole of 

 that period ; for the second offence the penalty and 

 other punishments were double. The sick and aged 

 could obtain licenses to eat meat. In 1562 the penal- 



