All the creatures of the earth were given to man for his use--man means mankind--they were never intended to be made a monopoly of; water is also the gift of heaven, and meant for the use of all.

We now come to the question how far the fish are your property.

If the fish only bred on purpose to please you, and make you a present of their stock, it might then require a different line of argument; but as in breeding they only acted in obedience to an instinct with which they are endowed on purpose that they may supply man, I submit to you that you cannot prove these fish to be yours more than mine.

As for feeding with the idea that they were your own, that is not an unusual case in this world, even when a man is giving bread and butter to his children.

Further--but I have another bite--I beg your pardon, my dear sir--ah! he's off again." "Then, Mr Easy, you mean to say that the world and its contents are made for all." "Exactly, sir; that is my father's opinion, who is a very great philosopher." "How then does your father account for some possessing property and others being without it ?" "Because those who are the strongest have deprived those who are weaker." "But would not that be always the case even if we were in that state of general inheritance which you have supposed?
For instance, allowing two men to chase the same animal, and both to come up to it at the same time, would not the strongest bear it off ?" "I grant that, sir." "Well, then, where is your equality ?" "That does not disprove that men were not intended to be equal; it only proves that they are not so.