Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1899 — The Uncertainty of Fishing [ARTICLE]

The Uncertainty of Fishing

Fishing is notoriously an uncertain calling. The motions of fish are past all understanding. One season they will visit every part of these shores and those of Labrador in their countless shoals. The next season certain bays or even a whole shore will be almost deserted. The herring are especially fickle, and there are places that were once good herring grounds that have scarcely seen a herring for many years. All sorts of theories are advanced to account for this, some of them ridiculous enough. But the fact remains, and when the fish fail to turn up in numbers at the accustomed place destitution follows. From a very early period the Government has granted relief in such cases. It is far easier to start doling out public funds thao to stdb< and it has now become a regular affair. The effect of such doles may readily be imagined. The baser look for them, ana the higherminded soon accept the philosophy that they have as much right to get a share t. s any one else.—New York Sinn.