§ SIR GEORGE PECHELLsaid, he rose to move an Address for Copy of the Order in Council of the 6th day of April, 1858, approving certain rules made by the Lords' Committee of Privy Council for the more effectual observance of the convention between Her Majesty and the King of the French concerning the fisheries in the seas between the British islands and France. The object of his Motion was to induce the Government to use its influence with the Government of France to obtain the permission of the latter for English fishermen to dredge in mid channel for oysters in the months of 216 May and June. It was a vulgar error, he said, to suppose that oysters lost their flavour in those months, especially those which were dredged for in deep water.
§ MR. HENLEYsaid, he would consent to the Motion. The draft Order in Council had been prepared in consequence of an attempt on the part of the crews of the fishing boats to conceal their numbers. He could not hold out any hope to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the law would be relaxed so long as the treaty with France was in existence.
§ MR. REBOWsaid, that as a Member for the town most interested in oysters (Colchester), all the fishermen asked was, that a fish which was very nourishing might be allowed to be caught at the season when it was at the highest possible perfection. He could vouch for the flavour of the deep sea oysters at Midsummer. They spawned two months later than those bred in shallow waters.
§ Motion agreed to.
§
Address for,—
Copy of the Order in Council of the 6th day of April, 1858, approving certain Rules made by the Lords' Committee of Privy Council for the more effectual observance of the Convention between Her Majesty and the King of the French, concerning the Fisheries in the Seas between the British Islands and France.