LAWS FOR TAKING FISH. 99 



Any person damaging or intruding, by using net- 

 trices, fish-hooks, or other engines to catch fish, without 

 consent of the owner or occupier, must pay any amount 

 the magistrate or justice orders, provided it exceeds not 

 treble the damages, and also a fine, not exceeding ten 

 shillings, for the use of the poor of the parish wherein 

 the trespass was committed, or be committed to the 

 House of Correction for any term not exceeding one 

 calendar month, unless he enters into a bond, with one 

 surety, in a sum not exceeding 10/. not to offend again, 

 and the justice may cut or destroy the nets, &c., taken 

 with the offender when apprehended. 



If any person unlawfully or maliciously cut, break 

 down, or destroy any head or dam of a fish-pond, or 

 unlawfully fish therein, he shall, at the prosecution of 

 the king, or the owner, be imprisoned three months, or 

 pay treble damages, and after such imprisonment, shall 

 find sureties for seven years for his good behaviour, or 

 remain in prison till he doth. 



To prevent the fish in the Thames from being im- 

 properly destroyed, the 30th of George the Second 

 enacts, that no person shall fish, or endeavour to take 

 fish, in the said river, between London-bridge and Rich- 

 mond-bridge, with any sort of net, other than except 



For salmon, with a net of not less than six inches in the 

 mesh ; 



For pike, jack, perch, roach, chub, and barbel, with 

 a flew or stream net, of not less than three inches in 

 the mesh throughout, with a facing of seven inches, 

 and not more than sixteen fathom long; 



For shads, with a net of not less than two inches 

 and a half in the mesh; 



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