260 FISH CULTURE. 



bottoms are so 'encrusted with oysters that they have 

 to he duhhed off with shipwrights' adzes ! {Vide thp 

 Twnes of the 24th.) If, however, on the rare occar 

 sions when French craft are caught in the fact, onj 

 north-connti^ magistrates would mete out the same 

 justice to them, by impounding all their nets and 

 sp£|,re tackle, it would necessitate their going home tp 

 -refit, and prevent their trespassing on our grounds, 

 for that season's fishing at all events. 



" J. WiCKEY." 



I need not comment upon the above letter further 

 than to say, that I believe that such treatment of our 

 fishermen is entirely illegal and not justified by any 

 treaty whatever, and is an arbitrary exercise of power 

 which, were such a thing attempted towards a French 

 boat, would produce correspondence and diplomatic 

 uproar. To show how productive of mischief the 

 laxity and supineness of our cruisers is, I may men- 

 tion that, a short time since, an affray ensued between 

 one of our Eamsgate fishing-boats and a French boat, 

 in which one of the Frenchmen lost his life ; and the 

 case is, I believe, still pending for inquiry. 



In considering our sea fisheries, the formation and 

 protection of oyster-beds is a subject which ought tp 

 jeceive the special attention which so delicious an^ 



