HISTORICAL REFERENCES: MASSACHUSETTS. . 697 



Felt quotes the following words of Mr. Higginson uttered in 1629, and contrasts them with the facts concerning 

 tlie same fish, " the bass, in 1845," when they were " seldom seen in our waters :" 



"Whilst I -was writing this letter my witte brought me word, that the fishcis had caught 1000 basseat one draught, 

 which if they were in England were worth many a pound/' 



A regular distribution by law of laud to the fishermen was iu 1G;:.~> ordered by tin 1 Salem authorities. Felt has 

 thus entered the occurrence : 



" 1633. Our town authorities, to ' avoid the inconvenience found by granting of laud for fishermen to plow,' ordered 

 'a howse lott and a garden lott or ground for the placing of the flakes, according to the company belonging to their 

 families, the greatest family not above two acres and the common of the woods ueer adioyning for their goates and 

 their cattle.'" 2 



GRANTS OF LAND TO FISHERMEN AND OTHERS. In the Essex Institute Historical Collections, Vol. ix. 1868, arc the 

 subjoined desires and grants of and to certain persons of Salem: 



" 23-ni OF THE HTH MO : ANN" 1636. 

 " William Hackford Received for an Inhabitant & may also have a fiishiug Lott." 



"7TH OF 12 MO: 1636. 

 " Sarg: Woolf may have a fishing Lott at Wiuf Harbo r . 



"AT A TOWNE MEETING llTH OF Y e 5 MONETH 1636. 



* * * " Its agreed That Thomas Moore sonue to widow Moore & his wife are received for Inhabitants and may 

 have one fishing lott on the neck. 



"AT A MEETING THE 25TH OF THE IflTII MONETH, 1637. 



* * * " There is graunted. to Richard Graves : half an acre of land upon the neek for the setting of his howse, 

 liee promising to follow fishinge. 



"THE 3D DAY OF THE FH'.ST MONETII, 1G37. 

 ' Widow Moore desircth a howse loote ueere vnto the Winter Hand, among the ffishernicns lolls. 



"THE 2lTl[ OF llTH MONETH 1638. 



" Graunted to John Browne an halfe acre lott for a fushiug lott neere to Winter Harbor. 



" 4TH DAY OF THE 12TH MONETH, lb'38. 



" Grannted to Joseph Younge, an halfe acre lot ueere the winter harbor for fishiugc. Also a 10 acre lott neere to 

 Mr. Downiuge's farme. 



"Grannted to Thomas ffryar 5 acres of land & a halfe acre lott neere winter harbor for fishinge. 



" Grannted to Henry Swan halfe, an acre of land ueere to Winter harbor for fishinge as also a 10 acre lott, ueere 

 to the Pond by Mr. Blackleech his farme. 



" Grnnuted to Joseph Kiteberill halfe an aero at Winter harbor if he imply it in fiishiug. 



"THE -ITU DAY OF Tin; 12 r ni MONETII. 



" Graunted to Hugh Browne half an acre of laud ueere about winter harbo r for to further his fishing, w ch if hee 

 follow it not, hee is to surrender it agairio to the towno. 



" Dauiell Jiggles desires an halfe acre lott neere about Winter Harbo r for their fishing affaires. 



" There is granuted to Daniell Jiggles half an acre of laud neere aboute Winter harbo r for tishiug vppou the like 

 ternies as Hugh Browne hath his. 



'Tin; I.-TH OF THE 'JTH MONETH, 1639. 



* K Ediuoud Tomp.son hath grannted him halfe an acre of laud at winter harbo r or therorbouls for a fishing 

 lott. 



" Grannted to Henry Hay ward an half a ere of land for a fishing lott about winter harbor. It, is permitted that such 

 jis have fishing lo.tts about Winter Harbo r & the Hand shall have libertic to fence .in their lotts to keepe off the 

 swine and goates from their fish, soothat they leave it open alter harvest is in. 



"Granuted to [Richard] Moore an half acre of hmd fur a fisher lolt, near abonl winter harbor. 



' Graunted to Matthew Nicks fisherman 5 acres of laud." 



Felt stales that on May 2.', 163:1, fh" general conrl, of Salem, for the i-nconragcmc nt of the fishery, exempted the 

 stock employed in it from taxes. They forbad cod and bass fish to lie use. I lor manure. 



Additional encouragement was given to the- Salem fishermen in tin- same year, as may bo seen from the following : 



'li,:;',), Nov. l.-th. Those having lots about Winter Harbour and the Island, have liberty to fenee in their lots 

 to keep oil 1 the swim- and goals from their fish, so shall they leave it open after the cattle is in." 



