24 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



CHAPTER II. 



BRITISH FISHERIES AND THEIR PRODUCE. 



To come to modern days, there are few nations, 

 it may be observed, which do not make use of 

 fishes as food ; our remark applies equally to 

 savage as to civilized people, from the Green- 

 landers and Samoiedes, to the natives of the 

 most polished states of Europe. The sea, the 

 great lakes, and the rivers of the globe, con- 

 stitute so many boundless magazines, which 

 through ages past have afforded, and for ages 

 to come will afford the supply appointed by 

 Almighty wisdom. So important to a nation, 

 indeed, are its fisheries, that they are made the 

 subjects of legislation, their boundaries in the 

 sea are determined by international compacts, 

 the seasons are prescribed, and the size even 

 of the meshes of the nets employed are regu- 

 lated by law. 



With respect to Great Britain, her fisheries 

 extend not only around the coast, but are car- 



