30 



ON THE CLOSE SEASON. 



fish side by side, taken in the same river, at the 

 same time, the one going to the sea, and the other 

 coming from it, and the truth of this observation 

 will be manifest ; the two fish will hardly look like 

 the same species. The same may happen in two 

 different rivers, and it is therefore not fair to con- 

 clude, as a general rule, that all fish are in season 

 at different times in different rivers ; they all come 

 from the sea, and it is that alone which makes them 

 seasonable. 



The law of Nature must be the same at all 

 places, and has the best claim to be adopted as 

 our guide. Can we suppose that sea fish are in 

 season at Southampton at one part of the year and 

 at Torbay at another ? Whatever may be the opin- 

 ion of others, such a supposition appears to me 

 irreconcileable with nature, with reason, or with 

 common sense. 



