LAWS OF ANGLING. 133 



at the assizes or sessions, be imprisoned three 

 months, and pay treble damages ; and after the 

 three months expired shall find sureties for his 

 good abearing for seven years, or remain in pri- 

 son till he doth. 



Whereas divers idle, disorderly, and mean per- 

 sons betake themselves to the stealing, taking, 

 and killing of fish out of ponds, pools, moats, 

 stews, and other several waters and rivers, to the 

 great damage of the owners thereof; it is enact- 

 ed that if any person shall use any net, angle, 

 hair, noose, troll, or spear; or shall lay any 

 wears, pots, fish hooks, or other engines; or 

 shall take any fish by any means or device what- 

 soever, or be aided thereunto, in any river, stew, 

 pond, moat, or other water, without the consent 

 of the lord or owner of the water, and be thereof 

 conticted by confession, or oath of one witness, 

 before one justice, in one month after the of- 

 fence; every such offender in stealing, taking, or 

 killing fish, shall for every such offence give to 

 the party injured such recompence and in such 

 time as the justice shall appoint, not exceeding 

 treble damages ; and moreover shall pay down 

 to the overseers for the use of the poor, such 

 sum, not exceeding 10s. as the justice shall think 

 meet. In default of payment to be levied by dis- 

 tress; for want of distress, to be committed to 

 the house of correction not exceeding one month, 



