140 AMERICAN FISHES. 



or the bultow, as it is called, or set-line, it is invaluable as a bait. 

 Whenever it can be obtained, no other should be used. 



It is an exceedingly excellent fish, however, for the table, possessing 

 much of the flavor with the peculiar cucumber odor of the Smelt. 



This wanton and stupid destruction of all kinds of game, whether 

 feathered, finned, or furred, really appears to be a distinct character- 

 istic of all the white inhabitants of America, wheresoever they are to 

 be found ; and it cannot be doubted that ere long they will most bit- 

 terly regret the consequences of their rapacity and wasteful folly. 



In this case, the wantonness is the more remarkable, as well as dis- 

 graceful, because, as Mr. Perley well remarks, " a bountiful Provi- 

 dence has furnished the shores with inexhaustible quantities of kelp 

 and sea-weed, and other valuable manures, which really enrich the 

 soil, while it is admitted that the use of fish greatly deteriorates it. 



" The legislature of Canada has been strongly urged to make it a 

 misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment, for any person to 

 to use either Herring or Capelin as manure, and such a measure would 

 seem to be highly desirable in New Brunswick. To be effective, there 

 should be similar regulations on both sides of the bay of Chaleur." 



Doubtless this is all very true, but unfortunately the Legislature of 

 Canada is much too busy in passing bills for the reward of notorious 

 murderers and rebels, and the opposition to the ministry much too 

 busy in combating them, and striving to get into office again, to think 

 of anything that could benefit the Province, or tend to the good of 

 any one except themselves and their own immediate partizans. 



Their own bad passions, and factious partizanship, and no external 

 causes whatsoever, are the bane and curse of the Canadas ; but, after 

 all, I suppose, it matters mighty little whether the legislature pass 

 such a law or no ; for no human being that I ever heard of in Ame- 

 rica, whether British or of the United States, ever dreamed of obeying 

 the game law, except exactly in so far as suited his own convenience. 

 So I presume the doom of the Capelin, and ultimately of the Cod, may 

 be considered sealed. 



