miOARD TO THE FRE8H-WATER FISHERIES OF NORFOLK. 435 
were expected, and doubtless we all learned very much that was 
previously unknown to us with regard to fish and fish people ; 
but in one respect they all signally failed — the lasting elfect on the 
literature of the subject seems to have been almost nil. Large 
.sums of money were voted in prizes for essays on fish and fishing, 
which it was hoped, and we were led to believe, would be made 
accessible to all, and prove of great permanent value. But alas! the 
Norwich essays were never published, or even seen, save by 
the jury whose business it was to adjudge the awards ; and those 
of the Groat International Exhibition, in a complete form, were 
issued (doubtless for some good and sufficient, but much to be 
regretted, roa.son) at a price which was quite prohibitory to a poor 
man ; and so sparingly were they distributed to our public institu- 
tions (if at all), that, so far as the writer is aware, there is not 
a single copy of the International Prize E.s.says in any public 
library in the important fishing county of Norfolk, nor has he 
ever had access to one. When we contrast this result with 
the enlightened liberality of the United States Commissioner of 
Fisheries, by whom all who take an intelligent interest in such 
matters are kept well informed with regard to the fishing and 
kindred industries of the New World, the comparison is not much 
to our advantage, and wo cannot but regret that the Royal 
Commissioners did not make special provision for the distribution 
of the essays which were adjudged worthy of prizes in, at least, 
the great fishing centres of the United Kingdom. 
The interest which is being awakened in the fresh- water fisheries 
of Great Brihrin, and which I have tried to show our own county 
has not been backward in promoting, is most excellent in itself, 
and let us hope that it may lead to increasingly good results. But 
we must not arrogate to ourselves wisdom superior to our 
predecessors in what we are too accustomed to regard as the dark 
ages ; for we shall see that in days long ago the products of the 
fresh waters of, at least, this county of Norfolk, were (|uite as 
highly esteemed, and as carefully guarded, as at present ; and that 
it was only our immediate ancestors who allowed the fish to be 
destroyed without check, and the courses of the streams to be 
impeded by mills, and fouled by sewage and other impurities. 
The many Acts of Parliament (some passed as early as Henry IV., 
but more especially in the enlightened reign of Queen Elizabeth) 
F F 2 
