438 
MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON SOME ANCIENT CUSTOMS AVITH 
“to do it forthwith. ” From Hardley Cross to the sea, the jurisdic- 
tion of the Yare is in the hands of the Yarmouth authorities. 
A further proof of the jealousy with which the common people 
regarded the privilege of free fishing, both fresh-water and marine, 
is afforded by the petition presented to Edward VI. (L549) by the 
leaders of Kett’s rebellion, in which occur the following clauses : — 
“We pray that Ryvers may be ffre and comon to all men for ffysshyng 
and passage.” 
“ We pray that the pore mariners or ffysshermen may have the hole 
profightes of ther ffysshynges, as purpres, grampes, whalles, or 
eny gret ffysshe, so it be not preiudiciall to your grace” 
(‘Norfolk Garland,’ p. 117). 
The following regulations for the fresh-water fisheries on the 
Yare are copied from the ‘ NorAvich Assembly Book ’ under date of 
“ St. Matthew the Apostle 3 and 4 Philip and Mary ” (155G) ; — 
“ Eegulations made for the Fresh- WATER Fishermen between 
THE TOWER AT CONISFORTHE AND HaRDLEY CROSS. 
“ No one to bete in the night time for Perches or any other fish. 
“ No person shall use any ‘ Lambe nett ’ or wycker baskett . . . 
for destroying of small fishes. 
“ No person or persons shall have above vij Tz’ammells wyde and 
narroAve and tenne Bowenetts. 
“No person shall ‘bushe’ more than tivo days in the iveek viz. upon 
the Monday and Thursday. 
“No iierson shall lay any bokes or boke. 
“No casting net be occupied between Ship washe and Hardley Cross. 
“No man shall ‘trolle’ in the river. 
“ No person shall ‘ jobbe ’ in the river. 
“ Item that every man shall be bound to keep a dog to hunt the otter 
and to make a general hunt twice or thrice in the year or more at 
time or times convenient upon pain to forfeit ten shillings. 
“ No fisherman being a common fisher or victualler to market shal at 
any time fish with Flewe sett nette or any other engyne Avithin 
the city bounds from the Chain to the Neiv Mills. 
“No fi.sherman shall imt any long netts into the river to take fish there 
in spaAvning time, that is to say three Aveeks before ChroAvchmas 
[3 May] and three weeks after ChroAvchmas.” 
It is Avorthy of observation Avhat excellent regulations for the 
proper conservation of the fresh-Avater fishes the above rules are. 
