OLD-FASH lOXED ANGLING 27 



them to be aimed at preventing immature fisli being 

 taken and preserves damaged. The penalties did 

 not err on the side of clemency. By 5th Elizabeth, 

 destroying any dam of any pond, moat or stew, 

 &c., with intent to take the fish, was punished with 

 three months' imprisonment and to be bound to good 

 behaviour for seven years after ; also by 21st Eliza- 

 beth, " no servant shall be questioned for killing a 

 trespasser within his master's liberty who will not 

 yield ; if not done out of former malice. Yet if 

 the trespasser kills any such servant it is murder." 



I fancy the following, if carried out now, would 

 rather astonish many fish dealers in the city of 

 London : — " Those that sell, offer, or expose to sale 

 or exchange for any other goods, bret or turbot 

 under sixteen inches long ; brill or pearl under four- 

 teen ; codlin twelve ; whiting six ; bass and mullet 

 twelve ; sole, plaice, and dab eight ; and flounder 

 seven, from their eyes to the utmost extent of the 

 tail; are liable to forfeit twenty shillings, by dis- 

 tress, or to be sent to hard labour for not less than 

 six or more than fourteen days, and to be wliippcd!' 

 I suppose most, if not all, of these enactments are 

 now repealed, but if not, and they were enforced, 

 a considerable sensation would be created by 

 them. 



One paragraph is very remarkable, as showing 



