180 FISH CULTUKE. 



think I may venture to reassert, that the system of 

 bounties was a wise and, for us, a necessary one. 



So little is the subject of our sea fisheries thought of 

 or understood, that, save the persons actually engaged 

 in them, no one knows or cares anything about it. 

 Where the haddock comes from, which the modern 

 Briton eats for his breakfast ; or whence the cod, that 

 aids his Christmas dinner ; or how the salt-fish is taken, 

 which he keeps fast on in Lent : he knows and cares 

 no more than he does to know whether there be fish 

 or no in the rivers of the moon — possibly not so 

 much. Yet is fish an article, not only of daily con- 

 sumption, but almost hourly consumption : we eat it 

 at every meal. For are not shrimps and prawns, and 

 even at times the domestic bloater, ornaments of the 

 tea-table ? — while who has not eaten pickled salmon 

 for supper, yea, though the penalty be nightmare? 

 This indifference can proceed from nothing but very 

 general ignorance, and this ignorance makes the 

 subject a difficult one to handle. Authorities, whence 

 one may draw inspiration and wisdom, are fully as 

 scarce as our knowledge. Fortunately, there are one 

 or two gentlemen of knowledge and scientific attain- 

 ments whom I can quote upon this subject ; for the 

 knowledge of the fishermen themselves is so beset 

 with prejudice and inconclusiveness, that it would 



