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 and are the fish directed by a mysterious instinct, as in our world, to visit periodically the coasts of the ocean, as if brought thither by the Divine command for the sustentation of man?"

"You seem," answered my friend, "to have been describing this country in adverting to your own. The fish of this planet are prolific beyond all other creatures, and are bound, as with you, to an appointed course. The finger of God, visible as it is throughout all his works, seems here to be more distinct and manifest; pointing with a benevolent clearness to this inexhaustible source of food. The supply has been always a great national object, but improvement has not reached its height, and never can reach it whilst a most improvident and enormous duty upon salt, amounting to thirty times and upwards of the value of the commodity, is suffered to remain as it is at present regulated by our laws."

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