SALMON-FISHERY OF SCOTLAND. 41 



fish shows it. But in making this fine present to man, Provi- 

 dence has assuredly given it to an ingrate, who, instead of 

 gratefully protecting and nursing the animal, brought so com- 

 pletely by its instincts within his power, for his own use, pur- 

 sues it in all parts, even almost to a system of extermination, 

 for which he is justly punished by the decrease of the species. 

 When we look to herrings, the same intentions of Providence 

 are visible. Forced by their instincts to migrate to the Polar 

 regions, they are made to return to our coasts, and are thus 

 brought within our power ; for no man will doubt that He could 

 have made them breed equally well in the icy seas of the north, 

 had such been His will. 



Here we must stop. We have spun the subject out into too 

 great length already for a Sketch. There are other particulars 

 relative to the fish in question, which we may possibly take 

 another opportunity to state ; unless, as we hope, some other 

 better qualified person shall take up the subject, and render 

 any farther statements on our part unnecessary. In the mean 

 time, we think it must be abundantly obvious to all that the 

 rivers are the true source of the salmon-fishery ; and that there, 

 and there only, can it be improved. Everything, therefore, 

 which tends to diminish the interest of the owners of the rivers 

 in the fishery must necessarily operate as a preventive to its 

 improvement, and prove as detrimental to the public as to the 

 proprietors. 



