ON THE CHANNEL-FISHERIES. 99 



ing the clear proof of the distance of vessels from 

 the coast or shore, it shall and may be lawful for 

 such magistrate in sessions assembled (if they shall 

 think proper) to receive the testimony on oath of 

 the persons on board such vessels, and to require 

 the same, as to the distance of such vessels from 

 the shore or coast, and to judge thereof as they 

 shall think the same deserving of credit. 



And whereas, by an act passed in the 1st Geo. 1. 

 c. 28, entitled an act (among other things) for 

 the preservation of the fry ofjish. After reciting 

 that of late years, the ( breed and fry of sea-fish 

 have been greatly prejudiced and destroyed by the 

 mesh of nets of too small size or mesh, and by 

 other unwarrantable and illegal practices ; it was 

 enacted, that from and after a day therein men- 

 tioned, if any person or persons should use at sea 

 upon the coast of England, any trawl-nets, drag- 

 net or nets, or any net whatsoever, for the catch- 

 ing of any kind of fish (except herrings, pilchards, 

 sprats, or lavidnian), which hath any mesh or make 

 of less size than three inches and a half at least, 

 from knot to knot ; or which hath any false or 

 double bottom, or pouch, or shall put any net or 

 nets, though illegal size or mesh, upon or behind 

 the other, in order to catch and destroy the small 

 fish, which would have passed through any single 

 net of three inches and a half mesh; all and every 

 person and persons so offending shall forfeit all 

 and singular such net or nets so used, contrary to 

 the true intent and meaning thereof. And also 



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