THe Kings Most Excellent Maiestie , 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 vse of that Net , Diuers Fisher-men do still vse the same , whereby not onely small and vnsized Fish , but euen the Fry , and Spawne , are vtterly destroyed . And His Maiestie hauing also found , that notwithstanding many Statutes haue beene made for the preseruation of the said Spawne and Fry : Yet neuerthelesse , by the destruction thereof , there hath beene of late yeares a greater scarcitie of Fish then in former times ; So that His Maiesties Houshold 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 Realme in great plenty , are in most places therof now wholly destroyed , being chiefly occasioned by fishing wth the said Trawle , which being laid forth at the Sterne of the Boat or Vessell , and extended to a great breadth by a Pole at the bottome & forepart of the Net ( like an Oister Dredge ) is drawne so neare the ground by a roape with Sinkers vnder it , as thereby the smallest Fish are moued , and the Boat being vndersaile is drawne with that strength or swiftnesse , that the Meshes being contracted , it taketh them , and moueth also the Slyme and Spawne vpon the ground ; For which cause his Maiestie by Proclamation hauing heretofore inhibited the vse 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 vse at all of those Nets shall be permitted : His Maiestie therefore ( whose chiefest care is , the welfare and good of His people ) to preuent these inconueniences for the future , by the vtter and totall abolishing of the vse of the said Net ; Yet willing to giue the Fishermen some reasonable time of prouiding them other fit instruments for Fishing , doth ( by the aduice of his Priuy Councill ) hereby signifie and declare his Royall Will and Commandement to be ,

That after the first day of May now next comming , to Fisherman , or other person or persons whatsoeuer , shall vse the said Net , called a Trawle in his or their Fishings , Nor any other like Engine or Instrument whatsoeuer now made or deuised , or hereafter to be made or deuised in imitation or resemblance thereof . And that all such persons as betweene this and the said first day of May next shall be permitted to Fish with the said Trawle , shall passe their Boats , or Vessels , whilest they so Fish in the Chanels and Deeps onely , and not in the Sholes and Flats , and that none of them so Fish with their Boats , or Vessels vnder Sayle , but by being moued onely with the Set of the Tyde , and that the Mesh of their Nets be according to the Lawes and Customes of this Our Realme in that behalfe ; vpon paine ( for the first offence ) of the confiscation and losse 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 Maiesties High Court of Starre-Chamber , or other His Courts of Iustice , for their contempt or neglect of His Maiesties Royall Pleasure , and Commandement herein declared .

And for the better reforming and suppressing of the Abuses before-named ; His Maiestie doth hereby further straitly charge and command , That from henceforth no Soale , Turbut , Purle , or Place , vnder the Assize of eight Inches in length besides the tayle , 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 soeuer he , or they shall be , vpon paine of the losse of the same vnsized Fish , which it shall be lawfull for the Clerke of the Market , or any other his Maiesties Officers , from time to time to seize , take away , and giue to the poore wheresoeuer the same Fish shall be found by Sea or Land ; And that the said Clerke of the Market , or other Officer , within sixe dayes after such seizure , doe deliuer to the Iudge of the Admiraltie , in whose Iurisdiction the said vnsized Fish shall be found , or to the Vice-Admirall of the County , where the same shall be seized , a note vnder 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 therin , aswell 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 Maiestie doth require and enioyne all his Iudges , and Iustices of Oyer and Terminer , Iustices of Assize in their seuerall Circuits , and Iustices of Peace in their Sessions , and all Admirals and Vice-Admirals , their Deputies and Commissaries , and all Conseruators of Riuers and Waters , Stewards of Leets , and other His Maiesties Officers and Ministers from time to time , to make diligent inquiry of all such person and persons whatsoeuer , as shall offend in any of the premisses , contrary to His Maiesties Will and Pleasure herein expressed , and thereupon to proceed against , and punish the Offendors by Fine and Imprisonment , or otherwise , according to His Maiesties Lawes .