THE BRITISH FISH TRADE. 69 



by such expedients as these, the truest method of assisting 

 fishermen is to leave them alone. The fisherman of the 

 British Islands has attained his present position by his own 

 unaided efforts ; his best friends desire that he should be 

 neither hampered by the restrictions of law nor spoilt by the 

 smiles of patronage. To both dangers he is exposed at 

 the present time. His importance has won for him friends ; 

 and his new friends are always suggesting new legislative 

 regulations for his protection, or for the protection of the 

 fish which he takes. Hitherto these suggestions have been 

 disregarded by Parliament. It may be hoped that the time 

 will never come when they may receive more attention. In 

 fishing, as in other industries, freedom is the first condition 

 of. success, and the man who is fettered by restrictive laws 

 is little better than a slave. Perhaps some readers may 

 recollect what was said of the slave : 



" Jove fixed it certain that whatever day 

 Makes man a slave takes half his worth away." 



