47 



be constructed entirely of wood, and be not 

 dragged across the cockle bed or be artificially 

 weighted." 



The only objection to this was contained in a written 

 representation from Bolton-le-Sands, in which it was asked 

 that the use of the "jumbo" might be permitted two months 

 earlier than date fixed. No evidence was offered at the inquiry 

 in support of this proposal, and the Board of Trade Inspector 

 saw no reason for complying with it. It will, therefore, be 

 seen that the Committee have at all times been anxious to 

 meet the fishermen or their representatives, and have, if any- 

 thing, erred on the side of leniency in making these bye-laws. 



The bye-law of 1893 is that in force to-day, and it is, there- 

 fore, possible now to fish at any time of the year for cockles 

 with hand, craam, rake, or spade, and from November to 

 February (inclusive) with a "jumbo" of certain dimensions; 

 provided that no cockle less than xf-ths of an inch be removed 

 from a fishery. 



The fixing of a size, below which shell-fish might not be 

 landed was made possible by the passing of the " Sea Fisheries 

 (Shell-fish) Eegulation Act of 1894," according to which Act — 



" The powers of a local fisheries Committee to make 

 bye-laws in pursuance of section two of the " Sea 

 Fisheries Eegulation Act of 1888 " shall extend to 

 making bye-laws to be observed within their district 

 for the regulation, protection, and development of 

 fisheries for all or any specified kinds of shell-fish, and 

 any such bye-laws may provide, amongst other things, 

 for — 



(a) The fixing of the size and condition at which 

 shell-fish may not be removed from a fishery, and the 

 mode of determining such sizes." 



