Shrimps, 1763

The Royal Court republished this 1763 Ordnance in January 1813.

Elisha Dobrée in his Diary, August 10 1786: 'Shrimping. Good sport.'; 23rd 1786: 'Shrimping. Excellent sport.'

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Le Publiciste, 10 October 1812.

By Order of the Royal Court

At Easter Chief Pleas, 11th April 1763, Monsieur the Bailiff presiding, in the presence of &c.

The Court has heard the opinion of the King’s Officers, that the sheer number of Shrimps [Chevrettes] that are being fished and that are taken at pretty much any season, on the shore of Guernsey as well as the shores of Herm, Jethou, and nearby islets, is doing great harm to the public, in as much as whereas when the Shrimp are left alone on the coasts they attract the fish that come to feed on them, if on the other hand they are fished out, the large fish leave and desert these shores, and in this way lead to the catch of fish being less abundant than it should be.

The Court therefore, having taken this into consideration and in an effort to rectify the situation, forbids anyone whomsoever from fishing or otherwise catching Shrimp in any way howsoever, on the shore of Guernsey as well as the shores of Herm, Jethou, and nearby islets, from 30th September to the following last day of July, these two dates included, subject to a fine of 30 livres tournois. By the same token, no-one may buy them during this period, on pain of the same fine; and no-one may catch shrimp from sunset to sunrise at any time of the year, same fine applying; although it is obviously quite permissible for anyone to fish for Shrimp during the day only on the said coasts from the 1st August to Michaelmas, that is the 29th September, those two days inclusive. Fines will go one quarter to the Crown and three quarters to the informer.

At Easter Chief Pleas, 3rd April 1764, Monsieur the Bailiff presiding, in the presence of &c

The Court confirms the above Order and allows fishing for Shrimp from 15th July until St Michael’s Day.