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ticed the more important, since the plan has been re- 

 presented as highly to he recommended from views 

 of the -public welfare. Any one who has seen a 

 stake-net, will conclude, that to render it equal to its: 

 object, it must be made so strong as to resist the tide 

 and the winds. Then, I say, thatou such a coast as 

 that of England and Scotland, which is constantly 

 traversed by small craft of all kinds, acd where no 

 man is at liberty to interfere with the free right of 

 passage, such a contrivance may be regarded as a 

 nuisance. It is frequently carried out in the sea, to 

 the distance of three-quarters of a mile, arid this too 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of fishing villages, 

 and the proprietors, being men of weight by their 

 wealth, can prevent the inhabitants from going to 

 law for a remedy. But now, suppose the stake-nets 

 were to be adopted to the extent which the Author 

 of the Pamphlet seems to desire. The coast will then 

 be covered with a sort of ehevaux-de-frizeand be- 

 come inapproachable except in the calmest weather. 

 I confess I cannot think the benefit which the stake- 

 net fishers propose to procure for the public, is suf- 

 ficient to render the permanent establishment of 

 stake-nets, in the open shores of this country, ex- 

 pedient, under this view alone of the subject ; and 

 although it is one part of the glorious prospect 

 which the Author of the Pamphlet indulges himself 

 with surveying, that " villages will rise up along the 

 shores. " I presume to say, that in any point of 

 view the villages now there existing may be con- 



