Title:
Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book
Level: Category
Borough records
Level: Fonds
COLCHESTER, PRE-1835
Level: Sub-Fonds
ESTATE
Level: Series
Colne Oyster Fishery
Level: Sub-Series
Oath and Minute books
Scope and Content:
'Customary Court and Court of Conservancy ... commonly called an Admiralty Court' held at Blockhouse in East Mersea 'according to the Custom of the said Borough time out of mind' now held at Ship Inn, East Donyland following 'Act for Regulating, Governing, Preserving and Improving the Oyster Fishery in the River Colne and Waters thereto belonging' 1758 [many subsequent meetings were held at the Moot Hall]
First meeting, 24 July 1758, includes appointment of Isaac Decker as water serjeant and bailiff; description of the extent of the Fishery 'the Fishery of the River Colne extends from North Bridge in the Borough of Colchester to Westness near St. Osith Point', right of fishing and dredging for oysters there and in waters and creeks belonging, 'Creeks called Pyefleet and Bracelet or Bracefleet'; customary for Mayor one day in Easter Week 'high or low' to make proclamation prohibiting dredging for oysters by unlicensed persons, season start on Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (22 July) to following Easter; a licence on petition was granted free to 'one poor Dredger' from one of eight adjoining parishes - Brightlingsea, Alresford, Wivenhoe, East Mersea, Langenhoe, Fingringhoe and East Donyland; presentment that 'it would be greatly to the advantage of the said Fishery and for the Improvement of the Oysters' to not grant licences to take oysters until 9 October not 2 August
Meeting of 23 September 1758 agreed rules for Fishery:
(1) On 1 March each year the Fishery shut by public proclamation, no oysters taken until 9 October, when those licensed could dredge until 1 March of the following year, fine 40s. for each offence
(2) No one dredger take more than 5 bushels of oysters in one day per dredger, fine 40s. for each offence
(3) Size of oysters to be dredged in River Colne 2 and a quarter inches long on the flat part or upper shell, if more than 40 oysters in a wash under that size fine 10s. for each offence
(4) Size of oysters to be dredged in Pyefleet and Bracefleet 2 and three-quarter inches long on the flat part or upper shell, if more than 40 oysters in a wash under that size fine 10s. for each offence
(5) No dredgers shall take away 'any Culsh, spat or brood of oysters' or throw 'Culsh or Oyster Shells' on the shore, fine 10s. for each offence
(6) All dredgers on being 'Called to or Hailed' by the water bailiff to come on board 'shall lye by' so that he can 'measure and size his Osyters' and return 'peaceably and quickly without interruption', fine 20s.
(7) No dredger shall sell undersized oysters 'under the denomination of Colne, Colchester or Pyefleet Oysters, fine 20s.
(8) No person who has not been apprenticed to an oyster dredger for 7 years in St. Osyth, Brightlingsea, Alresford, Wivenhoe, East Mersea, Langenhoe, Fingringhoe and East Mersea shall be licensed to dredge, no persons work in more than one boat at a time, nor tow any small dredging boat at the stern, nor work with more than 4 dredgers at a time, fine 40s.
(9) No person sail with his anchor or 'corkvile' in the Fishery, fine 5s.
(10) No 'Kentish or other Oyster Fisherman or Fishermen on the English Coast, or any Dutch or French vessell or Foreign Dealers in Oysters ... shall be furnished with Oysters out of the said Oyster Fishery and Waters ... under the sizes aforesaid', fine 40s. per wash
(11) No dredgermen shall mix oysters caught in the River Colne with those caught in Pyefleet and Bracefleet, fine 10s. per wash
(12) 'Whereas the Spatt and Brood of Oysters in the said Fishery receive great Detriment by the frequent use of throwing over board Gravel and other Ballast', fine 20s. for every offence
Courts list those licensed to dredge, giving names, parishes and numbers of dredges, sometimes including women, for example Mrs Buck, widow of George, of Brightlingsea, licensed for 3 dredges, 1760-1761; presentments of those who had infringed the rules
Includes Isaac Decker, water bailiff, resigned 'being very old and infirm' and was replaced by George Buck of Brightlingsea, oyster dredger, 2 December 1758; appointment of Thomas Cole of East Donyland, mariner, as assistant water bailiff, 16 December 1758; reduction of size of oysters from 2 and three-quarter inches to 2 and a quarter agreed, 4 October 1760

Index at front and extracts from minutes at end in hand of Henry Laver, Chairman of Oyster Fishery Board, 9 October 1915

At start of minutes: oaths for jury and foreman

At front (stuck in): letter from Mayor of Colchester to Chairman of Museum and Muniments Committee, 12 October 1915 accompanying volume received as gift from Alderman Laver
At front and back (stuck in): letters from Goody, Sons and Weatherall, solicitors, 62 North Hill, Colchester to Dr Henry Laver accompanying volume, 12, 16 July 1914
Dates of Creation:
1758-1763
Extent:
1 vol.
Physical Characteristics:
Volume has been bound at a later date and a non-contemporary index and extracts from minutes added by Henry Laver, 1915

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Fisheries Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book, 1758-1763
Subjects Oysters Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book, 1758-1763
Place Names Colchester Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book, 1758-1763
Institutions Borough of Colchester Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book, 1758-1763
Institutions Borough of Colchester Colne Oyster Fishery Oath and Minute book, 1758-1763