192 PROTECTION OF FISH. 



with us, and by decent care and treatment may be 

 plenteous, for the pleasure and support of ourselves, 

 our children, and our children's children. Consi- 

 derable attention has been expended upon some of 

 the ponds and streams on Long Island ; and although 

 the poacher makes occasional depredations, and 

 lurking through the bushes plants his net, or with 

 wriggling worm draws forth his unseasonable prey 

 during the forbidden periods, the improvement 

 already is remarkable. Ponds that were once emjDty 

 of fish are made beautiful by the splashes of the 

 playful trout, and streams that were deserted are 

 replenished. Enforce the law thoroughly, and dis- 

 continue unreasonable slaughter, and fish, from their 

 enormous fecundity, must increase immensely. 



It is probable that the localities in the neighbor- 

 hood of our large cities have passed their worst 

 days, and that the beautiful lakes and rivers, en- 

 sconced in the wild woods and amid the green hills 

 of our unopened country, are in the most danger. 

 A cockney sportsman, by which we mean not a city 

 sportsman, but him who, wherever born or bred, 

 fishes only for quantity, and from a vain-glorious 

 spirit of boastful rivalry, is, indeed, a ruthless thing ; 

 he spares neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, ^vhether he 

 can use them for food, or mus't leave them to 

 putrify, and- regardless of the means or implements 

 he employs. This merciless biped invaded Moose- 

 head lake one year, armed with fly and bait rod, 

 and with two additional trolling rods projecting 

 from each side of his boat as he moved from place 



