42 



doubled in number since the Sea Birds Act came into operation. 

 At Furness, on the 9th May, the fishermen also complained of 

 the gulls, and stated in addition that the cockle industry was 

 falling off. Though some of the statements are obviously 

 exaggerated, it is nevertheless credible that the cockle industry 

 may have begun to fall off ten years before the passing of the 

 11 Sea Fisheries Eegulation Act of 1888." At the Furness 

 inquiry a letter from Mr. William Wanklyn (written to Mr. 

 John Fell) was handed in, advocating a close time for cockles 

 on account of the decrease in supply. In the same letter a 

 gauge for cockles and mussels was advocated. Mr. Frank 

 Buckland, in Appendix No. II. to this Eeport states " Some 

 check ought to be put on these sea-gulls " (bottom of page 214). 



The next inquiry, held at Ulverston, was in November, 

 1889, when the Lancashire Sea Fisheries Committee was being 

 instituted." This was a period when a large quantity of cockles 

 were being sent away from Cark (vide fig. 7). Mr. Fell at 

 the opening of this inquiry said: — "There are no regulations 

 in force at present, and we have come to you to get you to 

 provide us with actually correct information as to the state of 

 the fishing interests in this estuary, in order that we may draw 

 up regulations which will generally help the fishermen. It 

 will be in the public interest, in so far as these regulations 

 should increase the supply of fish, and we come to ask you for 

 the information necessary to prepare these regulations." 

 Extracts relating to cockles are appended. The Eev. Mr. 

 Eigge said : — " With regard to cockle fishing, there is a 

 strong desire felt by the fishermen in Flookburgh that the 

 'jumbo' should be discontinued; it is very injurious to the 

 fisheries, and they are very desirous that there should be no 



*The County Council of the County Palatine of Lancaster. Evidence 

 taken at the inquiries held by the Sea Fisheries Committee of the County 

 Council. Preston, 1890. Printed by Parkinson & Co. See especially 

 pp. 73-99. 



