OBSERVATIONS OF THE OTTER AND CHUB 



the Fence-months for the preservation of fish, will in time 

 prove the destruction of all rivers ; and those very few that 

 are left, that make conscience of the laws of the nation, and 

 of keeping days of abstinence, will be forced to eat flesh, or 

 suffer more inconveniences than are yet foreseen. 



VEN. Why Sir, what be those that you call the Fence- 

 months ? 



Pise. Sir, they be principally three, namely, March, April, 

 and May, for these be the usual months that Salmon come 

 out of the Sea to spawn in most fresh rivers, and their fry 

 would about a certain time return back to the salt water, if 

 they were not hindered by wears and unlawful gins, which the 

 greedy fishermen set, and so destroy them by thousands, as 

 they would, being so taught by nature, change the fresh for 

 salt water. He that shall view the wise Statutes made in the 

 I3th of Edward i. and the like in Richard n. may see several 

 provisions made against the destruction of fish : and though 

 I profess no knowledge of the Law, yet I am sure the regula- 

 tion of these defects might be easily mended. But I remember 

 that a wise friend of mine did usually say, 'That which is 

 every body's business, is no body's business.' If it were other- 

 wise, there could not be so many nets and fish that are under 

 the Statute-size, sold daily amongst us, and of which the con- 

 servators of the waters should be ashamed. 



But above all, the taking fish in Spawning-time, may be 

 said to be against nature; it is like the taking the dam on 

 the nest when she hatches her young : a sin so against nature, 

 that Almighty God hath in the Levitical law made a law 

 against it. 



But the poor fish have enemies enough beside such un- 

 natural fishermen, as namely, the Otters that I spake of, the 

 Cormorant, the Bittern, the Osprey, the Sea-gull, the Heron, 

 the King-fisher, the Gorara, the Puet, the Swan, Goose, Ducks, 

 and the Craber, which some call the Water-rat: against all 

 which any honest man may make a just quarrel, but I will 

 not, I will leave them to be quarrelled with, and killed by 

 others ; for I am not of a cruel nature, I love to kill nothing 

 but fish. 



And now to your question concerning your Host ; to speak 



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