TWO (;kkat I'l. asses. 18 



These few ohscrvations I premise in tins pljioe, because I 

 foresee, ilistiuctly, tlmt my renuirks will be aiiiinmlverted upon, 

 more or less severely, by the inhabitants of those districts in 

 whieh the varieties of tish, whieh I rej^ard as almost worthless, 

 prevail; the same thing having; oeeuned with regard to my 

 work on Field Sports, concerning whieh gentlemen liave waxed 

 unwisely indignant as regards this or that bird, or this or that 

 way of cooking it, when they have plainly lacked the means of 

 drawing the requisite comparison. 



Hut to proceed, the (ianie I'isli of this eountry may be 

 divided, lirst, into two general classes, of fresh and salt-water 

 fishes; and these may be again subdivided, each, into other 

 two, the fresh, jis migratory and non-migratory ; the salt, as 

 into deep-sea, and shoal-water ; although, perhaps, to speak 

 with perfect precision on the subject, no deep-sea tish should be 

 called a Game Fish. Very many persons, are, however, greatly 

 addicted to the sport of making excursions from our large cities 

 to the various sea-banks, for the purpose, it is true, of enjoying 

 the sea breeze, and the excitement of the sail, combined with 

 the attractions of the chowder or the elani-bake, the ihampagne 

 and the cotillion, whieh are wont to complete the day's amuse- 

 ment, but still with the object of fishing likewise; aiul these 

 persons, even if their sport be not of the loftiest or most sport- 

 ing character, will reasonably expect to find some account (»f a 

 favourite pursuit. 



Nor, in very trulh^-though I esehew large congregations of 

 humanity for sporting purposes, deeming them rather social and 

 convivial in tlieir true cliaracter, and holding sociality and con- 

 viviality, though excellent things in their way, as utterly averse 



