FISHERY IMPROVEMENT IN JERSEY. 89 



been annulled; the Act of 1869 is worse than useless; that of 1877 is not 

 applicable to our local needs, and is in some respects auomalous ; the law 

 of 1882 upon the establishment of oyster parks concerns the capitalist 

 rather than the fishermen ; that of 1884 has little or no local bearing. 



We are thus left with the local Act of 1862, which so far as it goes, 

 contains sound and useful provisions. Unfortunately we have no efficient 

 means in existence to ensure due respect for its enactments ; its scope, 

 also, is much too limited when viewed in the light of recent research and 

 knowledge. 



The conclusion to be drawn is that our laws are quite inadequate to 

 meet present requirements, while if satisfactory new ones be framed it is 

 absolutely essential that there be made, concurrently, efficient provision 

 for enforcement, otherwise, as at present and in times past, such laws 

 will fail to compass their object and for all practical purposes will be 

 treated by those desirous of doing so, as non-existent. 



Let us rely no longer upon the sordid greed of the informer as th e 

 chief instrument for the detection of the law-breaker ; let us rather 

 delegate police duty to specially appointed men, who, working amicably 

 with the better class of our fishermen, will honestly and impartially 

 carry out their duty. 



Part 5. — Forecast of the probable outcome of an adequate local 



fishery investigation. 



The role of the prophet is notoriously a difficult one. Still, from the 

 extent of my personal knowledge of local factors, I feel perfectly confi- 

 dent that the majority of the lines of reform indicated in the following 

 sentences will be the correct ones to follow in case the authorities see 

 their way to delegate a committee with power to make extensive investi- 

 gations and experiments. 



1. Restrictions upon the use of set-nets and draw-nets would hinder 

 much unnecessary destruction of immature fish. The mesh of these 

 nets, in case entire suppression be not enforced, should measure not less 

 than 2 ins. along each side. With this increase in the mesh it might be 

 possible still to permit the use of these nets during say the last three, 

 and first two months of the year, and even during this period the use of 

 draw-nets by night would probably have to be interdicted. Such 

 restrictions would be welcomed by fishermen themselves, for they seldom 

 abuse these modes of fishing. The real offenders are chiefly men who 

 work these nets merely to gratify their instinct for sport and amusement, 

 or from the wish to make a little extra pocket-money. Indeed, I have 

 heard very definite whispers that members of the Honorary Police, men 

 pledged to enforce the law, are to be found in the ranks of these illegal 

 fishers. 



