346 TROUT AND ANGLING. 



was passed, imposing a penalty of fifty cents for 

 each trout taken in any other way except with the 

 rod and line. It is to be regretted however, that 

 the intention of extending the protection of the 

 law to this estimable fish, has not been altogether 

 realized : the law exists, but is disregarded. 



Factories and saw-mills have done their part to- 

 wards the work of extermination, and the destruc- 

 tive net bids fair to do the rest. But though 

 much diminished from these causes, there are more 

 or less waters all over this state, and particularly 

 in Plymouth county, and Barnstable county on 

 Cape Cod, where the fish live and thrive in the 

 undisturbed possession of their element.. 



In no place, however, do we remember to have 

 seen them in such abundance as in Duke's county, 

 upon Martha's Vineyard ; and it is perhaps from 

 this very circumstance that they are held in so lit- 

 tle estimation, the preference, as an article of food, 

 being given to the silvery " neshaw eel," as it is 

 called ; neither has the pleasure of taking them 

 ever entered into the minds of the people. It 

 may well be supposed then, how favorable these 

 circumstances must have proved, not only to their 

 preservation and wonderful increase, but also to 

 their attaining that respectable growth which en- 

 titles them to the name of " old settlers." It was 

 here in the month of November last, and of course 



