242 THE FISHERY LA WS. 



themselves on a level with the larger dealers ; and a 

 Select Committee which inquired into the matter in 1881 

 reported against the abolition of the brand. Since 1858 

 the expense of branding has been provided for by a fee 

 of fourpence a barrel, so that on this point the last trace 

 of the old bounties is removed. 1 



The Fishery Board 2 (formerly the " Commissioners of 

 the British white herring fishery") have power to make 

 police regulations ; and there is an old rule, never ex- 

 pressly repealed, that the mesh of herring nets must not 

 be less than an inch across. But this appears to be 

 abrogated, except within three miles of the coast, by the 

 operation of the Sea Fisheries Act of 1868 ; all restrictions 

 on means of fishing beyond that limit being abolished 

 by the Convention with France annexed to the Act, and 

 thereby made law for British subjects. This brings us 

 to the consideration of a fresh matter : namely, the regula- 

 tion of sea fisheries by International Convention. 



3. International Conventions. 



In 1843 a Convention was made between England and 

 France for the establishment of a common set of fishery 

 rules on the coasts of either country ; the purpose being 

 not so much the preservation of sea-fish as the prevention 

 of strife between fishermen of the two nations, and 

 avoidance of difficulties about jurisdiction. In 1868 a 

 new Convention was made, intended to supersede the 

 former one ; and being confirmed by Parliament 3 and 

 gazetted as the Act provided, it became, and it is at 

 present, the law governing British fishermen in British 



1 21 & 22 Viet. c. 69. * 45 & 46 Viet. c. 78. 



8 31 & 32 Viet. c. 45. 



