AVTUMN 8ALM0N-FISSING. 23 



at the bottom, then gradually became exhausted, and 

 allowed himself to be hauled in to within reach of the 

 gaff, the behaviour of the fish and fisherman being pre- 

 cisely similar upon each occasion. 



As the fish lay on the bank the milt was fairly exuding 

 from them, and altogether the spectacle was so repul- 

 sive that, in order to bring home to the angler some truth 

 of his wanton destruction, we were prompted to inquire, 

 " Whatever will you do with them ? ^' In a tone of 

 surprise the answer given was, " Why, kipper them, to 

 be sure, and they will serve me and my friends in 

 Liverpool all the winter I " 



It was really a sickening sight, and we were glad to 

 pass on ; but never shall forget it, and the visions which 

 we conjured up while thinking how, perchance, if they 

 had been allowed to perform the functions of nature, 

 they would have gained finer proportions in the sea 

 and returned to give sport and food fit for man. 



We saw this sportsman^s takes duly recorded in the 

 leading sporting papers, the weights all given, but not 

 a word as to the condition of the fish. 



This class of sportsman would probably argue that, as 

 the fish in that condition were of as much value to him 

 as if fresh -run, he was fully justified in laying himself 

 out for their destruction ; but by any one who did not 

 hold the virtues of the pot so immediately in view, the 

 system of killing the goose which would lay the golden 

 eggs (or, strictly speaking, fertilize them) would be 

 deprecated. 



