OYSTERS, LAW AS TO. The rule is that he who has the right of property in the soil or sea-shore is entitled to catch or keep and breed oysters there. But the shore below the medium line of the tides belongs to the crown, and not to any individual; and it is only by virtue of some grant front the crown that an individual or a corporation can establish an exclusive title to the sea-shore, and in such a case is exclusively entitled to any oyster-beds there. It is thus always by virtue of a grant from the crown that oyster fisheries are claimed as the property of an individual or of a corporation. The net 31 and 32 Viet. c. 45, however, now enables the board of trade to grant parts of the sea shore of Great Britain to individuals for breeding oysters and mussels, and has given new remedies for the protection of this property. ?he general law is as follows: 'Who ever steals oysters or oyster-brood from an oyster-bed which is private property is guilty of felony; and whoever unlawfully or willfully uses any dredge net or instrument within the limits of a private oyster-bed, for the purpose of taking oysters, though none are actually taken, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is liable to be imprisoned for three months. But persons are not prevented from fishing for floating fish within the limits of an oyster-fishery, if they use nets adapted for floating fish. Certain statutes as old as the time of Richard II. were passed to protect ovster-brood, hut these were
repealed by Cie sea fisheries act, 1868 (Paterson's Piehery Lairs of the United lanctlonf). Under the convention between England and France, confirmed by the statute 31 and 32 Viet. c. 45, a close season is prescribed for oyster-fishing in the seas between England and France, from June 15 to Sept. 1, during which time oyster-fishing boats may he boarded by officers of the coast-guard or navy; and oysters illegally caught may be seized and destroyed, and the master is liable to a penalty. In 1877 an act was passed appoint ing June 15 to Aug. 4 as a close time for fishing deep-sea oysters, arid from May 14 to Aug. 4 for other kinds in the British seas; it also grants power to prohibit the fishing in any locality for not more than a year. The law as to oysters in Scotland is substantially the s me as in England. As to Ireland, the Irish fishery acts give power to the Irish fishery inspectors to grant a license to individuals, as is DOW done in England, to appro priate a certain tract of the shore for the purpose of forming oyster-beds, and thereupon the beds laconic private property (Paterson's Fishery Laws, p. 257). There is also a close reason iu Ireland for oysters, like what is established under the convention with France.