PREFACE. 



T the time of the Fisheries Exhibition, 

 three years ago, public attention 

 was much attracted to the subjects 



of fish culture and fish supply. There were 

 sixpenny fish-dinners ; and fishes in every stage 

 and shape, alive and dead, in salt water and in 

 pickle-bottles, were the subject of the day. 

 One might have exclaimed with Mercutio, 

 "Oh, flesh! flesh ! how art thou fishified ! " 



The papers were full of a wordy corre- 



