A Defense of Fishermen 



irrelevant oaths. They, nevertheless, 

 find sufficient excuse for their accusa- 

 tion in the sudden ejaculations, out- 

 wardly resembling profanity, which 

 are occasionally wrung from fisher- 

 men in trying crises and in moments 

 of soul-straining unkindness of Fate. 

 Now, this question of profanity is 

 largely one of intention and delibera- 

 tion. The man who, intending what 

 he says, coolly indulges in impreca- 

 tion, is guilty of an offense that ad- 

 mits of no excuse or extenuation; but 

 a fisherman can hardly be called pro- 

 fane who, when overtaken without 

 warning by disaster, and abruptly 

 hurled from the exhilarating heights 

 of delightful anticipation to the depths 

 of dire disappointment, impulsively 

 gives vent to his pent-up emotion by 



