Medway Oyster Fishery. Act 1728

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Citation1728 c. 19
Anno Regni GEORGII II. secundo. An Act for regulating, well ordering, governing and improving the Oyster Fishery in the RiverMedway , and Waters thereof, under the Authority of the Mayor and Citizens of the City of Rochester in the County of Kent . PR.

(2 Geo. 2) C A P. XIX.

'WHEREAS Time out of Mind there has been an Oyster Fishery in the RiverMedway in the County of Kent , and in many of the Creeks and Branches thereof within the Jurisdiction of the Mayor and Citizens of the City of Rochester , which Oyster Fishery hath Time out of Mind been free and common to all Oyster Fishermen and Dredgers, after having served seven Years Apprenticeship to any Fisherman or Dredger before free of the said Oyster Fishery; and the Mayor and Citizens of the said City, and their Predecessors, have Time out of Mind, yearly and oftner, upon the Application of the said Oyster Dredgers, as Occasion hath required, held a Court commonly called An Admiralty Court , amongst other Things, for the ordering and regulating the said Oyster Fishery; and at such Courts the said Fishermen and Dredgers constantly attend, pursuant to a Summons for that Purpose served on them by the principal Water-Bailiff of the said Mayor and Citizens; and upon the Return of a Panel by the said Water-Bailiff of the most sufficient Men amongst the said Dredgers, to the said Court, the Persons so returned are sworn to be of the Jury of the said Court; and the Jury so sworn at such Court have Time out of Mind used to make Orders for regulating the said Oyster Fishery, with Fines and Penalties for the Breach of such Orders, and have appointed the Times when Oysters should be dredged and taken, and what Part of the said Fishery it was proper to dredge and catch Oysters in, and also the Times when no Oysters should be dredged or taken, which is commonly called Opening and shutting the Grounds ; and have also by such Orders appointed the Quantity of Oysters each Dredgerman should take in a Day, which is commonly called Setting the Stint ; and have also made Orders for the Preservation of the Brood and Spat of Oysters, and have presented the Persons guilty of the Breach of such Orders, and have likewise presented and fined such Oyster Dredgers as have been summoned, and who have not attended at such Courts; and such Fines and Penalties belong to and have been collected and received to the Use of the said Mayor and Citizens by their proper Officers; and the Water-Bailiffs and Officers of the said Mayor and...

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