presentation, it was not an unhealthy meal, carried no 

 unpleasant results with it, and therefore became a 

 legitimate fish offering. 



A SHORT SERMON. 



My son you will find the fraternity of fishermen 

 embraces the good, the better and the best of men and 

 their influences tend to elevate and improve those who 

 partake of its pleasures, and who are not so good. A 

 recreation which is followed by all classes and which 

 works to the betterment and refinement of mankind 

 must be worth the while. You will find others who 

 decry the art of fishing, some because they do not 

 enjoy it, those who are ignorant of its pleasures, 

 and a few cranks who justify their non-participation 

 because they believe it cruel. A year or so ago while on 

 a trip with my friends Doctor Henry Fry and Rev. R. 

 H. McKim, the former a prominent surgeon, the latter 

 a talented Divine, a railroad brakesman remarked to 

 the Reverend gentleman "Do you not think it is wrong 

 to shoot quail?" The good man replied about as 

 follows: "The suffering of a bird when shot is 

 probably no greater than that of a fish when taken 

 out of the vital element to die; and if our Saviour, 

 Jesus Christ, gave his approval, as He repeatedly did, 

 to taking fish out of the water, it is not likely that 

 He would disapprove of killing birds that are fit for 

 food, provided the destruction be not wanton or 

 excessive." 



This brief, but pointed, sermon should be read and 

 regarded by all fishermen. It means that fish are 

 intended to be caught for food, but not in numbers 



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