PKOTECTION OF FISH. 183 



PROTECTION OP FISH. 



THE subject of the protection of fish demands 

 the consideration of every political economist, as 

 well as of every sportsman in our country, or we 

 shall soon be reduced to the condition of France, and 

 forced to repopulate our deserted streams and lakes 

 and furnish to the people, with great labor and at 

 high price, one of their chief articles of food. In 

 olden times, during the epicurean days of Rome, 

 and later during the reign of the Catholic fast days, 

 the utmost attention was bestowed upon the preser- 

 vation, protection, and improvement of fish ; enor- 

 mous revenues were invested in immense tanks 

 where they were fattened, and different species were 

 transported to countries where they were unknown, 

 and domesticated in unaccustomed waters. With 

 the advent of the Roman Catholic religion, several 

 foreign varieties were introduced into England, 

 among others the fat carp and the lean pickerel ; 

 and fish ponds were invariably attached to monas- 

 teries and convents. 



Although the religion that ordains fish-eating to 

 be fasting, having shrunk from its gigantic reach and 

 extent, is confined in our land to a small sect, and 

 the inhabitants of the waters are no longer a reli- 

 gious institution ; fish must always constitute a con- 



