2QQ THE RELATIONS OF THE STATE WITH 



institutes and fishermen's shelters. These instances will 

 indicate that the nation generally, as distinguished from 

 the State meaning by State the legislative and executive 

 identity of the country is prepared to perform whatever 

 may be reasonably required of it in the interests of 

 fishermen. 



In conclusion, the whole question of the State's relations 

 to fishermen is based upon two main principles : 



I. That an industry amongst fishermen, whereby the 



national contentment and prosperity may be in- 

 creased, must be encouraged : and 



II. That the supply of that which (for the reason that 



fish may be had for the mere catching) ought to be 

 the cheapest form of food should be abundant to all 

 those classes, in addition to fishermen, which may be 

 shortly designated " consumers." 



In furtherance of the first of these principles, the State 

 has done much by legislation. In furtherance of the 

 second, if the London and Westminster Fish Supply Act 

 is excepted, it has done but little. Both of these principles 

 are, it is needless to say, closely allied ; but, in the present 

 situation of affairs, each appears to demand separate regu- 

 lations. 



Between the actual fisherman's fair price for the fish he 

 has caught, and the fair price to be paid for it by the 

 inland consumer, there are two intermediate facts for con- 

 sideration : the expense of carriage and the expense of 

 risk (in this case, as the matter now stands, " caveat 

 vendor," i.e. the fisherman or his representatives inter- 

 mediate between him and the consumer), because fish is a 

 perishable article. In the nature of things themselves, 

 artificial circumstances being removed, these two considera- 

 tions, and these two only, need prevail. 



