ri PREFACE. 



more fail, the mafhes will clofe, and frnall 

 fifh and large are equally carried down to 

 the cod of the net, whence none can ef- 

 cnpe. Therefore, in France, government 

 has permitted the fiihermen to form a kind 

 of confular jurifdiction among themfelves, 

 who are called elders. 



It has appeared neceflary to confide the 

 police of fisheries to thefe elders, as the 

 judgment in fifheries depends upon an infi- 

 "nity of combinations, which can only be 

 known to thofe, who have a long time fol- 

 lowed the profeffion. 



All difputes between fifhermen, relative 

 to the exercife of their trade, is determined 

 by them, without appeal, and Letters 

 patent are granted to them. Their laws, 

 or rather their cuftoms, are religioufly ob- 

 ferved, though not written, and their 

 forms of judicature are very fimple. For 

 example, at Marfeilles, when a fiiherman 

 thinks he has a right to complain of ano- 

 ther, he puts a penny only into the box of 

 the luminary of St. Peter, and he makes a 

 declaration, that it is to bring fuch a one to 



judgment 



