VUl PBEFACE. 



cast our lines into the deep sea we cannot dictate to the cod 

 or haddocks as to their inclination to hite ; in such circum- 

 stances we can take only those fish that offer. But we say 

 all the living fish which are improperly taken, from being too 

 small or in a spawning condition, ought to he again restored 

 to their watery home, and left to he captured at some future 

 date. And what is of stUl greater importance, in Britain 

 we ought to have a code of logically conceived fishery laws, 

 with proper oflScers to administer them. In England, at 

 present one department of government superintends the 

 oyster-fisheries, another rules over the herrings, and a third 

 takes charge of the salmon ! In Scotland we have one 

 Board of Fisheries, and in Ireland there is another! but 

 one Board of Fisheries ought to be sufiicient; and the 

 sooner we have a Fisheries Eeform Bill, the better it will be 

 for those interested in the fishing industries of Great Britain 

 and Ireland. 



305 St. Vinoent Stkbet, Glasgow, 

 October 31, 1873.. 



