257 



means there springs up a knowledge of reproduction, they 

 see for themselves the advantages obtained by preservation, 

 the rude operators lean* something of the life and habits 

 of the species kept at the stations, in a word, men who 

 have hitherto thought only about fishing, think about the 

 stocking of fishing grounds. 



One word with respect to the fry proceeding from these 

 establishments. This is the vulnerable point of the system. 

 The United States consigns them to the care and watch- 

 fulness of protecting societies, but the representatives of 

 other nations, who do not act in this spirit of association, 

 and are not in a condition to bear the increasing expenses 

 of a complete plan of fish hatching establishments, will 

 agree with me, that however excellent may be the system 

 under discussion^ it is not fit for general adoption, having no 

 other resource but that of looking to the State to keep up 

 the production by means of a provisional law, which, while 

 giving every possible limit to the industry, contributes in a 

 marked degree to prevent the depletion of the fisheries. 



These limitations cannot be determined in a general 

 sense, because in them there enter conditions which cannot 

 be disregarded, conditions which spring, some from nature 

 itself, others from the laws, usages, and customs of each 

 particular nation. It will hence be seen how much in 

 common are the interests of fishing in all countries, all 

 having the same fundamental principle, and it will then be 

 possible to adopt measures having the same affinity and 

 end. 



In the first place it is necessary to- take into account the 

 fact that the same principles cannot be established in all 

 waters. Thus Spain bounded by two distinct seas finds it 

 necessary to depart from the general unity which applies 

 to every national law, the industry being carried on under 



VOL. VII. C. S 



