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CONCLUSION. 



THE state of the salmon and channel fisheries is 

 now before the public, Every man, from the 

 prince to the poorest peasant, is interested in their 

 prosperity. But I will venture to affirm, that 

 though some good may be done by enforcing the 

 present defective laws, yet, unless the act which 

 I have drawn, and which, with the substance 

 of this work, was published three years ago 

 in the newspapers, or some such act, and as 

 much better an one as can be framed by any one 

 who will take the pains to do it, be passed, the 

 fisheries will never attain to that importance to 

 which they are entitled, nor produce the advan- 

 tages of which they are capable. There cannot be 

 a stronger proof of the truth of this remark, than 

 the wretched condition to which the fisheries, and 

 the salmon fisheries in particular, are reduced. 

 This is so notorious a fact that it cannot be 

 either denied or controverted. It follows then, that 

 the cause should be removed : and I think it must 

 appear that such cause is wholly artificial and 

 removable, and by no means physical and irre- 

 mediable. Let it never be forgotten, that whilst 



