90 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 



ness or Diversion " ; that " in fishing we are so far from delight- 

 ing to see our Fellow-Creature die, that we hardly think whether 

 they live. We have no more of a murderous Tho't in taking 

 them, than in cutting up a Mess of Herbage." That God " has 

 implanted in several Sorts of Fish, a strong Instinct to swim up 

 these Rivers a vast Distance from the Sea. And is it not re- 

 markable, that Rivers most incumbered with P'alls, are ever 

 more full of Fish than others. Why are they Directed here .''" 

 The preacher concludes from his ingenious reasoning that, " If 

 they may be taken, any may make a Business of taking them 

 for the Supply of others," and adds, " If I may eat them for Re- 

 freshment, I may as well catch them, if this recreate and refresh 

 me. It's as lawful to delight the Eye, as the Palate." 



The bulk and balance of the discourse is in the approved or- 

 thodox style of that age, with frequent reference to scripture 

 texts, citations from the church fathers, Latin quotations, etc. 

 The whole sermon seems to have been inspired by its romantic 

 surroundings, and to be addressed not so much to unconverted 

 men but more to a fellow-feeling of sportmanship in the minds 

 of his hearers. While the way was pointed to godly living, the 

 pleasant invitation of foaming waters held fast his fancy, and in 

 the sunlight the glint of leaping salmon made a present heaven 

 stronger to allure than the pictured joys of a new but remote 

 Jerusalem. 



Twenty-odd years ago certain enthusiastic citizens so exerted 

 themselves as to move heaven and earth and the legislature, out 

 of which agitation a fish-way was built at Amoskeag, to enable 

 salmon and other fish so inclined to pass up to the headwaters, 

 to deposit their spawn at their leisure and return unmolested to 

 the sea. Time and money were expended, the fish protected by 

 law, and everything was in readiness to revive the old time sport 

 except the salmon and Massachusetts. It was said the fish-ways 

 at Lowell and Lawrence were constructed, either in ignorance 

 or by design, to prevent the passage of fish. Finally, after long 



