OUE SEA FISHEEIES. 243 



effect of drying up the sources of supply to that 

 navy which has hitherto kept the trident of England 

 unconquered upon the seas.'' 



Yet, in the teeth of such overwhelming evidence 

 as this, it is greatly to be feared that the present 

 commission bodes no good to the brand or the her- 

 ring fisheries. 



During the last session but one of Parliament,' the 

 Board obtained the power from the Government to 

 suspend any of the clauses in the Act at its own 

 pleasitre. In January, 1861, the clause prohibiting' 

 trawling with small-meshed nets was suspended, 

 under the pretence of allowing the fishermen to 

 catch sprats or garvies, and the result was that, 

 on the first morning on which this wholesome re- 

 striction was thus openly removed by the Board, 

 four fishing-boats brought in, and sold as sprats, 

 above 400,000 herring-fry. Had these fry been per- 

 mitted to live a few months, they would have become 

 herrings, and have been worth (setting the herrings 

 at the rate of two a penny), between 800L and 900L 

 — as sprats they would not, probably, fetch as many 

 farthings ; but if this be the destruction of one night, 

 what must be the havoc in a whole season ? WUl it 



' Written in 1863. 

 E2 



