20 THE IMPORTANCE OF 



chanlcs and aitizans of almost every description — 

 wherever it extends itself, it scatters opulence. In 

 peace, it is rearing up a hardy race of navigators, 

 who with souls steeled by unremitted action — al- 

 most naturalized to the element on which they 

 pursue their gigantic game — accustomed to buffet 

 ihe tempest and the storm on every ocean, will 

 not hesitate, in war, if it must come, to display 

 the same daring intrepidity, the same recklessness 

 of danger, the same love of country and of home, 

 in defending their dearest rights. It would be 

 gratifying to sketch, in detail, the animating scenes 

 which are presented in this employment, — to por- 

 tray the exciting contests by man for the mastery 

 over the monsters of the deep — and to describe 

 the skill and ingenuity by which victory is obtain- 

 ed — but the limits which we have prescribed to 

 ourselves will not permit us to continue the sub- 

 ject further. 



The remaining fisheries of the Commonwealth, 

 as subjects of general interest, are in a great mea- 

 sure losing, and in some instances have lost their 

 importance. The beautiful salmon, which Isaac 

 Walton accounted the king of fish, is a rare visitor 

 to our waters, although we find them occasionally 

 exhibited by those who cater for the public taste. 



The statutes in relation to our interior fisheries, 

 including those of the Colonies of Massachusetts 



