78 
of pounds in money ; but in the entire demoralisation of our 
fishermen, who shall count the cost ? | 
England has relied more than once on the free, 
independent spirit of these men, and dare she for the ssake 
of a few small fish stamp this spirit out? If it was proved 
that these laws did far more good than even their wildest 
advocates surmise they may do, would it be worth it? In 
my opinion our fisheries themselves are hardly worth it. 
But when the best evidence and the best opinions go to 
show that it is absolutely useless, are we in Lancashire 
prepared to give these men carte-blanche, and then to pay 
the bill? Are we prepared to take the responsibility of 
leading in this, as I think, thoroughly bad cause? 
You will perhaps say, then, do you propose to do nothing ? 
Certainly not. I should be a poor naturalist if I proposed 
we should rest satisfied with our present knowledge. Let 
the County Council, if they will, endow original research, 
but avowedly as such. Let us have as much interesting 
information as we can get about the denizens of the sea, &c. 
Nay, further, if by any chance any worker appears to be 
doing any honest work of commercial value, even ifit is the 
biologists of University College (if such a thing is possible), 
let us assist them for all it is worth. We area rich county, 
and can afford the capital for anything that is worth it, but 
all this can be done at a small cost compared with what is 
spent at present. 
