THE SALMON AND CHANNEL FISHERIES. 193 



all these rivers should be in defence during the 

 sabbath day ; yet this profanation is justified, as 

 every thing else is, when there is an interest in so 

 doing ; and how ? — the veil is too flimsy not to be 

 seen through. There are four fenders which open 

 into this weir-coop ; one of them is drawn ; the 

 fish may escape if they can through the space of this 

 drawn fender, but that is impossible, the water 

 rushing through, as may be easily conceived, with 

 an impetuosity that is irresistible. As soon as the 

 fish, old and young, get into the trap at the en- 

 trance beneath, they take refuge behind the three 

 other fenders in the eddy ; if they attempt to get 

 out by the drawn fender, the violent force of water 

 takes their broad side and washes them back upon 

 the bars below ; when thus beaten about, they are 

 soon either much injured or killed. This is the 

 course pursued throughout the season on a Sunday, 

 and thus are every one of the respective words of 

 the act violated, and the public injured. If the 

 fish can perform impossibilities, then they may get 

 out, but as they cannot do what is not to be done, 

 they are all taken. As a further proof that the 

 fish thus ensnared are taken and cannot escape, it 

 is a notorious fact, that on the Monday morning 

 there are more dead and living fish removed, than 

 on any other day of the week ; yet the act says, 

 they shall be neither killed, hart, or injured! It may 

 be very true that the fish are not taken out by the - 

 hand or net on the Sunday ; but this is a mere 

 contemptible quibble ; the act must mean that they 



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