The Compleat ^Angler 



wbicb was bis own freehold at tbe time wben tbc trespass was supposes to be 

 done, and tbat be fished tbere as was lawful for bim to do, and tbis was 

 adjudged a good plea bs tbe wbole court, ano upon argument in tbat vers case 

 it was agreed, tbat no one could have a several fisbing except in bis own soil, 

 and tbat free fisbing mas be in tbe soil of anotber man, wbicb was all agreed 

 unto bs OLittleton, our famous English lawyer. So tbat from all tbfs mag be 

 drawn tbfs sbort conclusion, tbat if tbe angler take care tbat be offend not witb 

 bis feet, tbere is no great danger of bis bands. 



aSut tbere are some covetous, rigid persons, wbose souls bold no ssmpatbs 

 witb tbose of tbe innocent anglers, baving eitber got to be lords of royalties, or 

 owners of land adjoining to rivers, and tbese do, bs some apted clownisb 

 nature and education for tbe purpose, insult and domineer over tbe innocent 

 angler, beating bim, breaking bis rod, or at least taking it from bim, and 

 sometimes imprisoning bis person as if be were a felon. Whereas a true*bred 

 gentleman scorns tbose spfder*Hke attempts, and will ratber refresh a civil 

 stranger at bis table, tban warn bim from coming on bis ground upon so 

 innocent an occasion. 5t would therefore be considered bow far sucb furious 

 drivers are warranted bs tbe law and wbat tbe angler mas (in case of sucb 

 violence) do in defence of bimself. 5f $ come upon anotber man's ground 

 witbout bis license, or tbe license of tbe law, $ am a trespasser, for wbicb tbe 

 owner mas bave an action of trespass against me, and if 5 continue tbere 

 after warning to depart bs tbe owner, or bis servant tbereunto authorised, tbe 

 owner, or bis servant bs bis command, mas put me off bs force, but not beat 

 me, but in case of resistance bs me, for tben 3 (bs resisting) make tbe assault ; 

 but if be beat me, 5 not resisting, in tbat case, be makes tbe assault, and 5 

 mas beat bim in defence of msself, and to free msself from bis violence : and 

 in case $ shall leave ms rod behind in bis ground, be mas take it damage 

 feasant, but be can neither take it from ms person bs force, nor break it, but 

 be is a trespasser to me: wbicb seems clear bs tbe case of IResnell and 

 Cbampernoon, Mich. 7, Car . i, where IResnell brought an action of trespass 

 against Cbampernoon for taking and cutting bis nets, tbe defendant justified 



for tbat be was seised in fee of a several fishing, and tbat tbe plantive witb 



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