84* ON THE CHANNEL-FISHERIES. 



open to enable such fish to escape into the natural 

 stream, except at such times as there may be a 

 scarcity of water, for the use of such mills, when 

 such magistrates shall have power, and they are 

 hereby authorised to order such scuttle or hutch 

 to be shut up, or kept open, when and for so many 

 hours per day as they shall think proper. 



And whereas a most wicked, detrimental, and 

 malicious * practice is often used, for the purpose 

 of destroying fish, not only salmon, but every 

 other kind of fresh- water fish, by hot or quick 

 lime, and other deleterious drugs and materials, 

 but more particularly by quick lime, which when 

 slaked in water is well known to destroy every 

 species offish ; be it therefore enacted, that if any 

 person or persons shall wilfully throw, put, or place 

 any such quick lime into any river for the purpose 

 aforesaid, he, she, or they shall be guilty of felony, 

 and transported for seven years ^ and if any other 

 filth, material, or dung, green lint, or flax, the 

 letting off water impregnated therewith, or any 

 other thing whatever which shall be deemed pre- 

 judicial to the said fisheries, the same shall be 

 considered as a public nuisance, and indicted, 

 abated, or punished by fine and imprisonment, 

 according to the discretion of the sessions, and to 

 the degree, and nature of the offence. 



* If this were ever practised it would be a crime deserving 

 the most severe punishment. Whether practised or not it may 

 as well be provided against. 



