royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation prohibiting the use of the Net or Engine, called a Trawle.  
THe Kings Most Excellent majesty, taking into consideration the great destruction made of Fish, by a Net or Engine, now called a Trawle, and finding that notwithstanding former Proclamations prohibiting the use of that Net, Diuers Fisher-men do still use the same, whereby not onely small and vnsized Fish, but even the Fry, and spawn, are utterly destroyed. And His majesty having also found, that notwithstanding many Statutes haue been made for the preservation of the said spawn and Fry: Yet nevertheless, by the destruction thereof, there hath been of late yeares a greater scarcity of Fish then in former times; So that His majesties household and the Markets are not supplied therewith as they were wont to be, and the whole kind of some Fish, formerly taken vpon the coasts of this realm in great plenty, are in most places therof now wholly destroyed, being chiefly occasioned by fishing with the said Trawle, which being laid forth at the stern of the Boat or vessel, and extended to a great breadth by a Pole at the bottom& forepart of the Net( like an oyster Dredge) is drawn so near the ground by a rope with Sinkers under it, as thereby the smallest Fish are moved, and the Boat being vndersaile is drawn with that strength or swiftness, that the Meshes being contracted, it taketh them, and moveth also the slime and spawn vpon the ground; For which cause his majesty by Proclamation having heretofore inhibited the use of the said Trawle in some cases; But finding that it hath not wrought the reformation that was desired, and that the decay of fish vpon these coasts is likely to be continued, if any use at all of those Nets shall be permitted: His majesty therefore( whose chiefest care is, the welfare and good of His people) to prevent these inconveniences for the future, by the utter and total abolishing of the use of the said Net; Yet willing to give the Fishermen some reasonable time of providing them other fit instruments for Fishing, doth( by the advice of his privy council) hereby signify and declare his royal Will and Commandement to be,  
That after the first day of May now next coming, to Fisherman, or other person or persons whatsoever, shall use the said Net, called a Trawle in his or their Fishings, Nor any other like Engine or Instrument whatsoever now made or devised, or hereafter to be made or devised in imitation or resemblance thereof. And that all such persons as between this and the said first day of May next shall be permitted to Fish with the said Trawle, shall pass their Boats, or Vessels, whilst they so Fish in the channels and Deeps onely, and not in the shoals and Flats, and that none of them so Fish with their Boats, or Vessels under sail, but by being moved onely with the Set of the tide, and that the Mesh of their Nets be according to the laws and customs of this Our realm in that behalf; vpon pain( for the first offence) of the confiscation and loss of such their Nets, and the Boats and Vessels wherein they shall so Fish; And for their second offence to be further punished by Fine and Imprisonment in His majesties High Court of starchamber, or other His Courts of Iustice, for their contempt or neglect of His majesties royal Pleasure, and Commandement herein declared.  
And for the better reforming and suppressing of the Abuses before-named; His majesty doth hereby further straitly charge and command, That from henceforth no sole, Turbut, Purle, or Place, under the Assize of eight Inches in length besides the tail, be caught, killed, bought or sold in any Market, or otherwise by Sea, or Land, by any person or persons, of what estate, degree, or condition soever he, or they shall be, vpon pain of the loss of the same vnsized Fish, which it shall be lawful for the clerk of the Market, or any other his majesties Officers, from time to time to seize, take away, and give to the poor wheresoever the same Fish shall be found by Sea or Land; And that the said clerk of the Market, or other Officer, within six dayes after such seizure, do deliver to the judge of the admiralty, in whose jurisdiction the said vnsized Fish shall be found, or to the Vice-Admirall of the County, where the same shall be seized, a note under their hands of such Delinquents names, and of the place of their abode, with testimony that the Fish by him or them so seized, was vnsized; To the end that the Offenders therein, as well the buyer, as the seller of any such Fish, whether in Market, or otherwise, may be proceeded against and punished by Fine, and Imprisonment, and otherwise, according to their demerits.  
And lastly, His majesty doth require and enjoin all his Iudges, and Iustices of Oyer and Terminer, Iustices of Assize in their several Circuits, and Iustices of Peace in their Sessions, and all Admirals and Vice-Admirals, their Deputies and Commissaries, and all conservators of Riuers and Waters, Stewards of Leets, and other His majesties Officers and Ministers from time to time, to make diligent inquiry of all such person and persons whatsoever, as shall offend in any of the premises, contrary to His majesties Will and Pleasure herein expressed, and thereupon to proceed against, and punish the offenders by Fine and Imprisonment, or otherwise, according to His majesties laws.  
given at Our Court at White-Hall, the second day of April, in the eleventh 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. 1635.