T 9 2 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



of animal life ; but if fish are to be eaten, I see no more 

 harm in capturing them by skill and ingenuity with an 

 artificial fly, than in pulling them out of the water by main 

 force with the net ; and in general, when taken by the 

 common fishermen, fish are permitted to die slowly and to 

 suffer in the air for want of their natural element, whereas 

 every good angler, as soon as his fish is landed, either 

 destroys its life immediately, if it is wanted for food, or 

 returns it into the water." 



