FISH AND FISHERIES. 175 
Ti nspection of Artificial Oyster-beds and. Layings. 
18. Artificial oyster-beds and layings of any lessee (not being private 
fisheries under Part III) may be inspected by any Inspector once in 
every month, or oftener if directed by the Commissioners, upon such 
Inspector giving twenty-four hours’ notice either to the lessee or his 
manager or his agent in charge of the beds of the intention to inspect 
the same. In the course and for the purposes of such inspection the 
lessee, his manager, agent and servants shall, at the request of the 
Inspector, test the state of any bed or laying required by the Inspector 
to be tested, by dredging or gathering by tongs, hand or otherwise (ac- 
cording to the nature of the bed) oysters from such bed, under a penalty 
upon every such person refusing or neglecting to do so of £5. 
Dredging on Natural Oyster-beds. 
19. Natural oyster-beds shall not be dredged, nor shallany oysters be 
taken from such beds (except by an Inspector in the performance of his 
duties) unless the same shall have been notified in the Gazette to be open 
for dredging or otherwise than in accordance with the directions of the 
Inspector of the fishery within which such oyster-beds are situated. 
Cleaning, &c., of Natural Beds. 
20. The Inspector may, notwithstanding any such notification as afore- 
said, close any natural oyster-bed, or portion thereof, for the purpose of 
cleaning, levelling, or otherwise improving the same, in any case where 
and for such time as in his opinion such closing shall be necessary ; 
but such closing shall be subject to revocation and modification by the 
Commissioners. No dredging shall take place on a bed or portion 
so closed until the same shall be declared’ by the Inspector or the 
Commissioners to be again open for dredging. 
Inspector may in certain cases stop Dredging. 
21. Whenever the Inspector shall be of opinion that the further dredg- 
ing of any bed would be injurious, or that the oysters therein are out of 
season, and not fit for food, whether by reason of spatting, freshets, or 
any other cause, he may prohibit the dredging or taking of oysters from 
such bed for such period, subject to the directions of the Commissioners, 
as he shall think necessary, and during such period no person shall 
dredge for or take oysters from any such bed under a penalty not 
exceeding £20. 
None but Lncensed Dredgers to Dredge. 
22. No persons shall be allowed to dredge for or take oysters from any 
natural oyster-bed who shall not, on demand of the Inspector, produce 
the oyster-dredging license for inspection. 
No turn allowed unless to Licensed Oyster-dredgers. 
23, Every person bespeaking a turn for dredging on any such bed must 
produce his license (if required by the Inspector) before such turn shall 
be allowed. 
