Billingsgate, etc. Act 1698

VII. Fish not to be bought up, to be divided by Lots; and afterwards retailed.

Fishmonger buying Fish, except for his own Sale; Penalty £20; Size of Lobsters for Sale; Penalty.

And for the better preventing the same or the like evill Practices for the time to come Be it further enacted That no Person or Persons whatsoever shall at any time after, the said Tenth Day of May One thousand six hundred ninety nine imploy or be imployed by any other Person or Persons in buying in or at the said Market of Billingsgate any Quantity of Fish to to be divided by Lots or in Shares amongst any Fishmongers or other Persons in order to be afterwards put to sale by Retaile or otherwise nor shall any Fishmonger at any time after the said Tenth Day of May ingross or buy in the said Market of Billingsgate any Quantity of Fish but what shall be for his owne Sale or Use and not for or on the behalfe of any other Fishmonger to expose to sale under paine of forfeiting for each such Offence the Sum of Twenty Pounds one Moiety thereof to the Use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed and the other Moiety to his or their owne Use who shall sue for the same And that from and after the said Tenth Day of May no Fisherman or other Person or Persons shall bring on Shore or put to sale any Lobsters that are not Eight Inches from the Peak of the Nose unto the end of the middle Fin of the Tail under paine of forfeiting for every such Lobster the Sum of One Shilling the one Moiety to the Poor of the Parish where the Offence shall be committed the other Moiety to the Prosecutor to be recovered upon Conviction before the Chief Magistrate of any City or Towne Corporate or before the next Justice of Peace where such Offence shall be committed