FISHES AND FISHING. 273 



for the proposers of it, that he acted with such cau- 

 tion, and thereby saved them from the consequences 

 which might have ensued. 



I am not about to enter into a discussion whether 

 angling on Sundays, not in the Thames alone, but 

 in every other water should be prohibited ; but I will 

 mention a few of the persons who would be injured 

 most seriously by any such prohibition. The owners 

 of fishing-tackle shops in London would lose a con- 

 siderable portion of that trade which they have en- 

 gaged in for the support of their families. The 

 fishermen on the Thames would lose probably one 

 fifth or more of their present incomes. The proprie- 

 tors of houses of entertainment frequented by anglers, 

 who have paid large sums in the way of good- will, 

 fittings-up, &c., would, many of them, become 

 insolvent. 



The fascination which exists in seeing fish caught, 

 pervades all classes of society ; and if to a passive 

 spectator it is so attractive, how much more so is 

 that of being the active agent, by whose skill 

 in adapting baits and tackle the most cunning of the 

 finny tribe are captured ; and if anglers of the middle 

 and poorer classes could have their amusement inter- 

 fered with by a legislative prevention of Sunday 

 angling, such is the paramount inflaence of this sport, 

 that many artizans and others would neglect their 



