FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 261 



missed in the same way as the protection under the Scotch 

 Act of 1828 (9 Geo. IV. c. 35), whereby salmon were not 

 to be " slain from the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady 

 until the Feast of Saint Andrew in winter," and the enact- 

 ments " Anent Cruves " * were confirmed. 



In 1 840 (3 & 4 Viet. c. 74) Scotch oyster-beds received 

 protection, and seven years later (by 10 & 1 1 Viet. c. 92) 

 similar protection was extended to mussels. 



The thirty sections contained in the Third Part of the 

 Sea Fisheries Act of 1868 regulate the relations of the 

 State with fishermen in regard to spawning beds. These 

 provisions relate only to oysters and mussels, together with 

 their brood, ware, spat, or spawn generally, by whatever 

 name designated. They apply to the territorial seas only 

 of Great Britain, with the exception of those of Ireland, 

 the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. 



The following procedure is adopted in order to establish 

 protection. 



The promoters, having first given notice to the adjoining 

 landowners, who may raise objections, forward a memorial 

 to the Board of Trade, praying for an order to protect 

 a certain portion of the bed of the sea. In reply, the Board 

 of Trade appoints an inspector to investigate, at some place 

 in the locality itself, the desirability of making an order, 

 and, influenced by his report, the Board either grants the 

 order or withholds it. If granted, the order must be pub- 

 lished in the district, and it does not prevail until it has 

 been confirmed by an Act of Parliament. If opposed in its 

 passage through the House, it will be referred to a Select 

 Committee ; but the Board of Trade has limited powers 

 subsequently to amend the order. The heavy expenses of 



* Cruves = "fish-traps." 



