FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 265 



the matter, and ready means of convicting offenders are 

 given to courts of law. 



In the very next year the South of England Oyster 

 Company took advantage of the Act, and The Oyster and 

 Mussels Fishery Orders Confirmation Act, 1869 (No. 2), 

 was passed. This confirmation Act is worthy of considera- 

 tion, as it shows how the means accorded in 1868 were put 

 to practical use. The Act itself is a short one of three 

 sections only, with a schedule containing in ten articles the 

 order confirmed. Its second section amends section 45 of 

 the Sea Fisheries Act of 1 868. Section 45 implied that by 

 a certificate that a grant was improperly utilised the whole 

 grant must be determined; but the amending section 2 

 enacted that a certificate might apply to part only of a 

 grant. This in itself is a matter of but trivial importance, 

 but it proves that these confirmatory Acts may from time 

 to time be utilised for the amendment of our sea fishery laws 

 generally, without, now that the question of fishery legisla- 

 tion is on a clearly defined basis, either passing express 

 amendment Acts, on the one hand, or re-opening the whole 

 subject of 1866 on the other, for the sake of a new enact- 

 ment to supersede that of 1868. 



The company in question obtained by their order 

 200 acres in Langston Harbour and round Hayling 

 Island, and deposited plans with the Board of Trade. 

 They acquired a several fishery, which was to be marked 

 by poles and beacons at intervals not exceeding 100 yards. 

 Obliterated marks were to be replaced at once, and notice 

 was to be given at the first establishment of the fishery to 

 fishermen and others by placards in the harbour and at 

 Hayling Bridge. The grant was for sixty years only, and 

 no works other than the marks and beacons mentioned 



