SELECT COMMITTEE OX THE SEA FLSHERIES BILL. 173 



Appendix C — conti n iml. 



II.— Abstract of Restrictive Legislation in North Sea States and the United States 

 OF America, with Summary of Replies to Questions regarding Enforcement, Limits 

 of AppHcation and General Effect of Laws, and Existence of Markets for Sale of 

 Undersized Fish. 



BELGIUM. 



Law of 19th August, 1891. 



Article 1. — Gave Belgian fishermen the exclusive right of fishing within three miles) from 

 low water mark along the Belgian coast, as well as of dependent islands and banks. 



(This was the first exercise by Belgium of the exclusive fishery limits fixed by Article 2 

 of the North Sea Fisheries Convention, 1882.) 



Article 8. — Empowered the King to determine the restrictions and measures necessary to 

 prevent the destruction and the capture of fry and small fish by Belgian fishermen. 

 (Effect was given to this Artinle by the Lavv^ of 1892.) 



Laio of 5th Sefleinber, 1892. 



The Belgian Minister for Agriculture, &c., in his report to the King, pointed out that the 

 object of Article 8 of the Law of 1891 was most important, and that in order to prevent the 

 destruction of the sea fishing industry, it was necessary to check the waste of fish life and to 

 protect the reproduction and multiplication of the more valuable species. Referring to the 

 Conferences in London in 1890 and 1892, and to the views expressed that the object could only 

 be attained by international action, he explained that these considerations had prompted 

 the present law, and hoped that the example would be followed by other Powers. It was 

 essential to prevent the capture of young fish, which had already a certain market value. 

 It was accordingly proposed to put an obstacle in, the way of the introduction into Belgium of 

 fish under a specified size without distinction as to the place of capture (sans distinction de leur 

 provenance) or of the nationality of the boat which carried them. Otherwise it would be easy to 

 evade the law. 



The purchase of under-sized fish was not made an offence, because the consumer could not 

 be required to have a perfect knowledge of the different species of sea fish. 



Belgium. 



Laiv of 5th September, 1892. 



Article 3. — The length below which the fish hereunder designated are to be thrown into 

 the sea is determined as follows : — 



1. Turbot, brill, ray, halibut, cod and haddock, 25 cm. 



2. Sole, dab, plaice and whiting, 18 cm. 

 These measures represent the total length of the fish. 



Fish of the species specified above found on board Belgian fishing boats navigating or anchoring 

 in Belgian waters, will be considered as having been taken {comme provenant) in territorial waters. 



Article i. — Fish mentioned in Article 3, not attaining the specified dimensions and where- 

 ever caught id quelle que soit leur provenance), must not be landed, transported, hawked, 

 exposed for sale or sold in Belgium. 



Article 1: — Undersized fish may be seized and thrown into the sea or sent without delay 

 to the nearest hospital. 



Article 8. — Infractions of Articles 3 and 1 are punishable by a fine of from 26 to 100 francs" 

 The fine is doubled if the offence takes place at night, or for an offence within two years of 

 a former conviction, or if the master refuses to submit boat and fish to inspection. 



(0.10.) Z 



B^jlgium. 



