AMongst the manifold blessings , Almighty God hath bestowed vpon Our Kingdomes , and people , the abundance of Fish , vpon all Our Coasts , and in Our Riuers , requireth a most thankefull acknowledgement , being not onely sufficient to nourish Our owne 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 equall to Our Neighbours , We may thereby enioy as great aduantage , for Our Nauigation and Trade . But besides the great neglect in generall to improoue this chiefe Staple Commoditie , the particular disorders and abuses of Fisher-men amongst vs are growen to such extremitie , that they haue almost destroyed both the Fish , Frie , & Spawne , so as they now want worke , and are not as heretofore the Nurcery of Seamen , but are forced to get their liuings by other Occupations . And the former abundance of Fish is turned into such scarcitie and dearenesse , that the Lawes of Our Church and State for the keeping of Fish dayes are not executed as they ought to be : And both our whole Kingdome , and especially Our Citie of London , and euen Our owne Court , are many times vnprouided for their necessary dyet . Now considering how this reflecteth vpon Our Gouernment , and the good of Our people , we haue thought fit with the aduice of Our Counsell , to apply that meete and forcible remedy which is already well ordeined by the Lawes & Statutes of this Our Kingdome . And hereby Wee require and command all Our Commissioners for the Admiraltie , Conseruators of Our Riuers , Warden of Our Cinque-Ports , Viceadmirals , and all Our Officers and others , whom it may concerne , respectiuely to cause all the said Lawes and Statutes to be obserued , as well for preseruation 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 Lawes for Fishing , many profitable Orders haue beene set downe , both by the High Court of Our Admiraltie , and by the Conseruators of Our Riuers , and by other Commissioners which by their due execution reformed much abuse ; yet since the craft and greedinesse of Fisher-men and others , hath found meanes by new Engines or new names , to frustrate Law and Order ; for preuention thereof hereafter , Wee doe hereby declare , that howsoeuer these Lawes & Orders did specifie the names then in knowne vse , yet both the equitie and true meaning thereof , forbiddeth vnder those names , and by generall words also , all other Nets , Engines and disorders , whereby the Frie and Spawne of Fish may bee destroyed . And therefore where the Nets heretofore called Traules at the first were vsed without inconuenience , yet by the abuse of the Fisher-men a Net of the same name is now vsed , which is notoriously knowne to destroy the said Frie , & Spawne : And therefore the same is both forbidden by the Law , and Wee doe hereby prohibite the vse of them and of all other Nets , howsoeuer they are or shall bee called , that haue not their Meshes sized according to the said Lawes and Orders , or by which the Fish of any kind with the Frie and Spawne may be destroyed : And further , whereas it is reasonably conceiued 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 Lawes , and that this neglect is chiefely growen from the Differences and Contestations raised amongst Our Officers & Conseruators about their Rights and Iurisdictions : Wee preferring the publique benefit of Our Subiects before their priuate Interests and Questions , doe ordaine that all Rights , Titles , Powers and Iurisdictions belonging to Our Admiraltie , or to the Conseruators of Our Riuers or other Our Officers shall be respectiuely reserued without preiudice or impeachment , and neuerthelesse doe hereby charge and command them and euery of them that haue any trust from vs in Our said Admiraltie or Conseruation of Our Riuers , hereafter concurrently and seuerally to doe their best indeauors ( according to the said trust committed to them ) that Our said Lawes 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 Lawes and Orders without fauour or partialitie , Prouiding neuerthelesse that no Offendor , presented and legally questioned in one Court , or before one such Officer or Conseruator , shall for the same offence be againe prosecuted and punished by any other . And further for preuention of Oppression , Molestation and discouragement that Fisher-men may suffer by the varietie of Iurisdictions and Officers to whom this Power is giuen onely for the preseruation and furtherance of Lawfull Fishing . And that no Malefactor may escape the iust censure of Our Lawes , Wee doe hereby require and strictly charge , as well the Commissioners and others Officers of Our Admiraltie , as also the Conseruators of all Our Riuers , and all other ministers that exercise in this regard any Authoritie vnder vs , 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 themselues or any other , any fees , rewards , gratuities , payments or allowances in money , Fish , or otherwise from any Fisherman of what qualitie soeuer , other then the due penalties which by the said Lawes and Orders are imposed and allowed .