royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for the better ordering of Fishing, vpon the Coasts of His majesties Dominions.  
AMongst the manifold blessings, Almighty God hath bestowed vpon Our kingdoms, and people, the abundance of Fish, vpon all Our Coasts, and in Our Riuers, requireth a most thankful acknowledgement, being not onely sufficient to nourish Our own Subiects, but by exportation to supply a great part of the Christian World: And without doubt, if the care and industry of Our people bee equal to Our Neighbours, We may thereby enjoy as great advantage, for Our navigation and Trade. But besides the great neglect in general to improve this chief Staple commodity, the particular disorders and abuses of Fisher-men amongst us are grown to such extremity, that they haue almost destroyed both the Fish, fry,& spawn, so as they now want work, and are not as heretofore the Nurcery of Seamen, but are forced to get their livings by other Occupations. And the former abundance of Fish is turned into such scarcity and dearness, that the laws of Our Church and State for the keeping of Fish dayes are not executed as they ought to be: And both our whole kingdom, and especially Our city of London, and even Our own Court, are many times unprovided for their necessary diet. Now considering how this reflecteth vpon Our government, and the good of Our people, we haue thought fit with the advice of Our counsel, to apply that meet and forcible remedy which is already well ordained by the laws& Statutes of this Our kingdom. And hereby Wee require and command all Our Commissioners for the admiralty, conservators of Our Riuers, Warden of Our Cinque-Ports, Viceadmirals, and all Our Officers and others, whom it may concern, respectively to cause all the said laws and Statutes to be observed, as well for preservation of the Fish vpon Our Coasts and in Our Riuers, as for the regulating of Fisher-men in their Trade, in the qualities and sizes of their Nets and Engines, and in the fit times and seasons of Fishing. And whereas for further explanation of the Statutes and laws for Fishing, many profitable Orders haue been set down, both by the High Court of Our admiralty, and by the conservators of Our Riuers, and by other Commissioners which by their due execution reformed much abuse; yet since the craft and greediness of Fisher-men and others, hath found means by new Engines or new names, to frustrate Law and Order; for prevention thereof hereafter, Wee do hereby declare, that howsoever these laws& Orders did specify the names then in known use, yet both the equity and true meaning thereof, forbiddeth under those names, and by general words also, all other Nets, Engines and disorders, whereby the fry and spawn of Fish may bee destroyed. And therefore where the Nets heretofore called Traules at the first were used without inconvenience, yet by the abuse of the Fisher-men a Net of the same name is now used, which is notoriously known to destroy the said fry,& spawn: And therefore the same is both forbidden by the Law, and Wee do hereby prohibit the use of them and of all other Nets, howsoever they are or shall bee called, that haue not their Meshes sized according to the said laws and Orders, or by which the Fish of any kind with the fry and spawn may be destroyed: And further, whereas it is reasonably conceived that the destruction of Fish hath proceeded not so much from defect of Law and Order, as from want of due execution which is the life of Our laws, and that this neglect is chiefly grown from the Differences and Contestations raised amongst Our Officers& conservators about their Rights and jurisdictions: Wee preferring the public benefit of Our Subiects before their private Interests and Questions, do ordain that all Rights, Titles, Powers and jurisdictions belonging to Our admiralty, or to the conservators of Our Riuers or other Our Officers shall be respectively reserved without prejudice or impeachment, and nevertheless do hereby charge and command them and every of them that haue any trust from us in Our said admiralty or conservation of Our Riuers, hereafter concurrently and severally to do their best endeavours( according to the said trust committed to them) that Our said laws and Ordinances may bee put in due and strict execution both against Subiects and Strangers, and to take Cognisance of such Presentments as shall bee made in their Courts or otherwise, and to punish all offenders according to the said laws and Orders without favour or partiality, providing nevertheless that no Offendor, presented and legally questioned in one Court, or before one such Officer or conservator, shall for the same offence be again prosecuted and punished by any other. And further for prevention of Oppression, Molestation and discouragement that Fisher-men may suffer by the variety of jurisdictions and Officers to whom this Power is given onely for the preservation and furtherance of lawful Fishing. And that no Malefactor may escape the just censure of Our laws, Wee do hereby require and strictly charge, as well the Commissioners and others Officers of Our admiralty, as also the conservators of all Our Riuers, and all other ministers that exercise in this regard any authority under us, that they neither require, nor take, nor suffer to be demanded or taken by their Marshall, Water-Bailiffs, or other Ministers, or by any other person for themselves or any other, any fees, rewards, gratuities, payments or allowances in money, Fish, or otherwise from any Fisherman of what quality soever, other then the due penalties which by the said laws and Orders are imposed and allowed.  
given at Our Court at Greenwich, This four and Twentieth day of May, in the seventh year of Our reign.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: and by the assigns of John Bill. M.DC.XXXI.