152 ANGLING 



damages, and be fined, not exceeding ten shillings, for 

 the use of the poor of the parish, or imprisonment in the 

 House of Correction, not exceeding one calendar month, 

 unless he enters into a bond, with one surety, in a sum 

 not exceeding ten pounds, not to offend again, and the 

 justice may cut or destroy the nets, etc. 



If any person unla-wfuUy 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 

 Eichmond Bridge, with other than lawful nets. 



For salmon, 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, not less than two inches and a half in the 

 mesh; 



For flounders, not less than two inches and a half in 

 the mesh, and not more than sixteen fathom long ; 



For dace, with a single blay-net, of not less than two 

 inches in the mesh, and not more than thirteen fathom 

 long, to be worked byfloating only, with a boat and a buoy; 



For smelts, with a net of not less than one inch and 

 a quarter in the mesh, and not of greater length than ' 

 sixteen fathom, to be worked by floating only with a 

 boat and a buoy ; 



Under the penalty of payiag and forfeiting the sum 

 of five pounds for every such offence. 



No fish of any of the sort hereinafter mentioned may 

 be caught in the Thames or Medway, or sold, or exposed 

 to or for sale, if caught in the Thames or Medway— 



No salmon of less weight than six pounds. 



