72 ON THE CHANNEL-FISHERIES. 



the quantity of young fry and eggs of all descrip- 

 tions, sorts and sizes, thus destroyed, from the size 

 of half-a-crown to that of sixpence, and thence to a 

 pin's head, would be absurd. The mass appeared 

 to be countless and incalculable ; and, exclusive 

 of the quantity discernible by the naked eye, there 

 must have been a still much greater quantity 

 that would require the aid of the glass to identify it. 

 However, after the fishermen had separated the 

 saleable from the unsaleable fish, the latter being 

 kept for their own private purposes, the useless 

 dead mass of fry and pea was shovelled back into the 

 sea, as food for gulls and other animals, instead of 

 having been allowed to increase to its natural di- 

 mensions, and become food, rich and abundant, 

 for our own support and enjoyment. 



On making some enquiries on this subject of a 

 very respectable gentleman of Brixham, he told 

 me that he had seen a whole boat-load of little 

 useless fish and fry of this description taken from 

 the trawlers, and thrown into the sea. Now this 

 trawl-net is thus drawn, upon an average, ten times 

 a day, by one hundred vessels from one port. Let 

 the public then reflect, and let a calculation be 

 made, if possible, (but the details baffle all calcu- 

 lation) what a destruction must be effected by the 

 pwctice at large ! — a destruction contrary to 

 sound policy, and contrary to the express letter and 

 true intent and meaning of a salutary act of par- 

 liament. Though this national grievance is known 

 to many, yet no man moves a finger to remedy so 



