cHap. xiv.] Appeal to the Fishermen. 255 
like the cod, is extensively taken, and largely cured and 
‘forwarded South. Like the cod, the stomach of this spe- 
cies is also a rich mine for the naturalist, as the reader may 
already have anticipated from the foregoing list.”* 
In order to obtain all these products of the sea, Edward 
went round among the fishermen from Crovie to Portsoy, 
and pressed them to help him in his researches. He told 
them that many an object of great interest to naturalists 
was daily thrown away. Though it might be of no use to 
them, it might prove of great use to science. “Oh!” said 
the fishermen, ‘we canna tell what the fellow wants: we 
get’ so muckle trash upon our lines. Are we to keep it 
all?” 
“Yes,” replied Edward, “keep it all. Lay it carefully 
aside, and I or my daughters will call for it.” A few of 
the fishermen did what Edward told thent to do; but the 
others “ couldna be fashed.” 
Edward published his advice to the fishermen in the 
Banffshire Journal. ‘‘ How little trouble,” he said, ‘‘ would 
it be for any fisherman who might find a rare fish, crab, shell, 
or zoophyte, or such-like object attached to his lines, to 
get it examined and named, so that its occurrence might be 
recorded! This could be done, and then he could, if so 
minded, dispose of it to the best advantage. Or what 
great ‘fash’ could it be for them to keep the cleanings of 
their lines for a like scientific purpose ? 
“Tt is quite astonishing what amazing numbers of minute 
creatures are at times to be found among the refuse of only 
one boat’s lines. No one would believe it, except those 
who are in the habit of carefully examining such things. 
The ocean is, as it were, one vast and boundless expanse of 
life, and the inhabitants thereof about as numberless as the 
sands by the sea-shore. I have myself, and that, too, under 
the most disadvantageous circumstances, picked off from a 
* Naturalist, 1855. 
