19 
was not a practical sea-fisherman, he had taken a very 
active part in the inquiry lately made by the Corporation 
of London with regard to the fish supply of the Metropolis. 
What struck him most, in looking over the Exhibition, 
was that everything was done for the destruction of sea- 
fish, and nothing for their protection. In fact, the sea-fish 
did not appear to have any friends in the Exhibition. 
He thought that the prevention of the destruction of 
immature fish ought not to be the only object of this 
section of the Congress, but that artificial propagation of 
sea-fish ought also to be considered. Many of the fishing- 
grounds around our coasts were not as well stocked as in 
former times, and some places appeared to be entirely 
deserted. Our fishermen were now compelled to go a 
distance of three or four hundred miles in order to obtain 
their supplies of fish, which ought to be found nearer home 
at less expense. Much had been done for the protection 
and propagation of salmon in this kingdom, from the fact 
that large numbers of people have vested interests in 
salmon rivers; but no one had such interest in the open 
sea, and consequently nothing was done there for the pre- 
servation of the fish. The world at large is interested in the 
supply of sea fish, and he contended that the interests of 
the people could only be preserved by means of legisla- 
tion. He quoted, in support of this statement, an Act of 
Parliament to prevent the sale of crabs and lobsters under 
specified sizes, which had exercised a very beneficial 
influence on the supply, and suggested that similar restric- 
tions should be placed on the capture of very small fish. 
The American fisheries enabled us to estimate the evils 
produced by excessive or improper fishing. Within fifty 
years no waters of the same extent in the world could 
show such numbers of shad and herring as the Potomac 
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