§ The House resolved itself into a Committee on the Oyster Fisheries' Bill.
§ On the First Clause no oysters to be taken between the 12th of May and the 4th of August.
Captain Berkeley, for the purpose of 833 giving greater protection to the fisheries, moved as an amendment, that dredging for oysters should henceforward cease on the 30th of April, and not commence until the 1st of September.
§ The Committee divided on the original clause.—Ayes 38; Noes 14—Majority 24.
§ Mr. B. Hoy moved, that the whole of the proviso to the First Clause be omitted.
§ Mr. Bernaldeclared, that if that amendment were carried the Bill would be rendered worse than useless, and he should, therefore, use every exertion in his power to defeat the Bill altogether, if the hon. Member for Southampton were successful. The Committee divided on the original clause.—Ayes 28; Noes 15—Majority 13.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ On Clause 3,
§ Mr. Bernal moved, that the proviso at the end of the clause, which subjected the nets of the fishermen to forfeiture, who should be found dredging for oysters within the prohibited time and distance, should be omitted.
§ The Committee divided on the original clause.—Ayes 24; Noes 21—Majority 3.
§ The proviso was struck out, and the clause as amended agreed to. The remainder of the clauses were agreed to.
§ The House resumed: the Bill to be reported.