FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 195 



unfortunate. Prior to 1882, the only other Convention still in 

 existence relating to fisheries was one made between England 

 and France, to provide regulations for preventing the undue 

 destruction of fish, and more particularly oysters, in the 

 English Channel, as well as to prevent disturbances between 

 fishermen of the two nationalities. With this object a Con- 

 vention was entered into in 1839, and confirmed by Act of 

 Parliament in 1843. The Convention, however, for various 

 reasons into which it is needless to enter into detail, has 

 proved unworkable, and was superseded by a new Treaty in 

 1867, which framed a series of regulations for the fisheries 

 in the Channel between Englishmen and Frenchmen. This 

 Treaty, though confirmed by Act of Parliament in 1868, has 

 never come into practical operation, except in one particular, 

 on account of the objection entertained by the French 

 Government, among other things, to the trial of French 

 subjects in English courts. Offences under the Treaty are 

 clearly defined, and may be prosecuted ; but English com- 

 plainants must follow French offenders to French courts, and 

 the provisions are practically in abeyance. The single ex- 

 ception alluded to is in regard to the question of a close time 

 for oysters, which was fixed from June i6th to August 3 1st. 

 Both Governments have been enabled to pass a law pro- 

 hibiting boats from carrying dredges between those dates, 

 and forbidding the sale of oysters taken beyond the three- 

 mile limit between those dates ; and, as common action has 

 been taken in this respect, these bivalves are adequately 

 protected in accordance with the views entertained on both 

 sides on this subject. In all other respects, in such im- 

 portant matters as the prosecution of offenders, the admis- 

 sion of English fishermen to French ports, and of French 

 fishermen to English ports, to sell their fish, and the 

 prevention of disputes, the Convention remains a dead 



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