TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 125 



8) far from leaving our yea-Fisheries unrestricted, it is highly uocessary t'l 

 impose some limitation upon them ; and, so far from dreading interference, 

 our interference is at present so fiital that further interference of another 

 kind is rei^uired as a counterbalance; while that counterhalauce Science only can 

 apply. 



As much may be said for those other industries, in common speech also 

 called "fisheries" — the taking of Oysters, Crabs, and Lobsters, all of which have 

 lately been diminishing in a still more alarming degree. Here Parliament has 

 wisely resolved to interpose, though whether the manner of interposition is wise 

 seems to be a matter on which, as few natm'alists have been consulted, we liad 

 better reserve our opinion. 



Thus, without troubling j'ou with many technical details, I have striven to lay 

 before you a sketch of man's treatment of some of his fellow-creatures, and of the 

 effects which have sprung, or certainly will spring, from it. There is probably 

 hardly an island on which he has set foot, the fauna and flora of which has not 

 been in some degree influenced b)' his even temporary' presence ; there is assnredly 

 not a continent, though a continent takes longer to subdue : and his control does 

 not stop at the shore; for, if what I have been advancing is true, the inhabitants of 

 the deep come also more or less under his dominion. I invite you to contemplate 

 whether it is always, or even generally, that of a beneficent ruler. But it will 

 doubtlijss be urged that this kind of thing has gone on for ages— ever since life 

 first existed on the earth. I may be told, in the words of the great poet of the 

 country in which we now find ourselves, — 



" Look abroad through Nature's range, 

 Nature's mighty law is change ; 



Why then ask of silly man. 



To oppose great Nature's plan ? " 



I would answer from the same source that 



" man, to whom alone is giv'n 



A ray direct from pitying Heav'n," 



.should by means of tliat ray not oppose Nature, but r.ather second her preser\ati\'e 

 measures. That ray is the ray of Science. "VYe can only govern Nature by obeying 

 her, only by obeying her can we assist her. To obay her laws we must know 

 them ; what can we know of them but what Science teaches us ? 



It may be said that I have taken too gloomy a view of this matter of the extirpa- 

 ti(m of animals by man. I wish I could think so. But I believe that if we go tu 

 worli in the right way there is yet time to save many an otherwise expiring species. 

 In this country there is happily a strong disposition, which gi-ows stronger day by 

 day, to preserve our wild animals. It is very desirable that this feeling should 

 not be limited to the British Islands. If it is, as I maintain, a right feeling — a 

 feeling sanctioned alike by humanity, by Science, and by our own material interests — 

 it cannot be too widely disseminated. But its propagation must not be left to 

 humanitarians and sentimentalists, whose eftbrts are siu-e to be brought to nothing- 

 through ignorance arid excess of zeal, nor to economists, whose endeavours would 

 unquestionably fall short of what is required. The ofliciousuess of the one class 

 and the slackness of the other must equally be tempered by the naturalist. He 

 can be trusted not to interfere with the use, but with the abuse, of the animal 

 world. Onh' to do this he must place himself in the forefront of the movement ; 

 for he can submit to no other leader. lie alone has, or should have, that Imow- 

 ledge which gives the power of coping successfully with the difficidt questions that 

 will arise ; and the advantage it gives liim he must not abstain from exercising. 

 If, without offence, I might here paraphrase some vener.iblo words, I would say 

 that, according to the greatness of this power, we must preserve those that are 

 otherwise appointed to die. 



1876. 13 



