75 



extraordinary degree, ought to deter the 

 Angler from continuing his sport when he 

 finds a shoal of them. 



But the injury which is occasioned by the 

 rod and line is insignificant when compared 

 with the wilful slaughter caused by mill weirs, 

 where in one night a cart load of these little 

 fry may be taken. The gentlemen through 

 whose estates the river winds ought to be 

 particularly attentive to those most to be 

 dreaded ravagers, occupiers of mills; 

 who in a flood, (at which time the fry run 

 in shoals) under the pretence of setting bas- 

 kets for eels, fix them in such a manner as 

 not to admit the possibility of a single fish 

 of any description escaping, however small it 

 may be ; and they have been known to catch. 

 such immense numbers of samlets, that for 

 want of knowing what to do with them, they 

 have been under the necessity of throwino- 

 fchem to the pigs. 



