16 



" His young, warm heart was cold and lifeless — his soul 

 had lost its consciousness — the vital spark had faded into 

 darkness — perhaps was quenched for ever." 



CHAPTER HI. 



Necessity proved the mother of invention, 

 FRANCE AND FRENCHMEN. 



Gehin and Kemy, two poor fishermen of France, found that 

 their means of subsistence was nearly at an end. That the 

 rivers to which they looked to obtain a livelihood — were 

 become barren and unfruitful ; they found that fishing in 

 season and out of season had brought want and poverty 

 to their door. 



" We have toiled all day, and have caught nothing." 

 What shall we do? we have no fish, therefore we cannot 

 buy bread ! What shall we do ? — Was it stern necessity ? 

 or was it inspiration that caused these poor unlettered men, 

 these fishermen of the Vosges — who could have had no 

 opportunity of ascertaining that the people of former cen- 

 turies were in possession of the means of propagating the 

 finny tribe — to pause and reflect, — to conceive and to carry 

 out the grand discovery, — the artificial propagation of 

 trout (applicable to all descriptions of fish.) 



Gehin and Remy ! to you belong the honor, to you are due 

 the thanks of your countrymen — the thanks of England 

 and of all countries, for the grand discovery of an art by 

 which thousands are benefitted, and the value of which can 

 by no means be correctly estimated. Rivers barren and un- 



