LAWS OF THE FISHERY. 325 



pursuit, an additional cause of dispute would occur : 

 for, besides the simple question, A¥hetlier the fish 

 was fast or loose ? we should have to inquire, Whe- 

 ther the original striker's boats had, or had not, re- 

 linquished the pursuit ? And, whenever a master 

 observed a fish escape from any neighbouring ship, 

 he would be dubious of striking such fish, or any 

 other, which, from its conduct, he might mistake for 

 the same. Hence, the fear of litigation might ope- 

 rate so forcibly, and, at the same time, so contrary 

 to the economy of the fishery, that a number of 

 wounded whales, and others supposed to be wound- 

 ed, would escape, which, in the present state of the 

 law, are attacked and captured without scruple. 



The same objection holds with regard to any 

 other general alteration in the laws of the fishery, 

 which occurs to me. 



The only improvement, therefore, which, on the 

 whole, I conceive, in the present state of things, the 

 law is capable of, is that arising from the application 

 of the golden precept, given by the Saviour of Man- 

 kind, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do 

 to you, do ye even so to tliem.*" This would shew 

 a person, that to attempt to take a fish out of the 

 hands of another is a crime ; and to endeavour to 

 seize a fish which has just escaped from its strikers 

 with lines, or with lines and boat, (so long as they 



New Testament, Maithav, ch. vii. ver. 12. 



