GROWTH AND EXPANSION 65 



Even in the seventeenth century there were far-sighted 

 statesmen who recognized the importance of the two in- 

 dustries not only as means for rivaling the commercial in- 

 terests of England, but also as powerful agencies for bring- 

 ing about the separation of the colonies from the mother 

 country. Sir Josiah Child, writing of the people of New 

 England in 1670, said that by means of their mackerel- 

 and codfisheries these people were more proper for ship- 

 building and producing seaman than the other colonies; 

 and he added that nothing was more prejudicial to any 

 mother country than the increase of shipping in her 

 colonies. 1 



The colonists early recognized how closely the prosperity 

 and very life of New England rested upon the fisheries. 

 The first governors of Plymouth and of Massachusetts were 

 interested not only in securing laws to promote the in- 

 terests of the fisheries, but, in addition, each was actively 

 interested in the business itself. The same kind of in- 

 terest was shown by other men prominent in the colonies 

 in the early days. Later, the Curwins of Salem and 

 Boston took a prominent part in pursuing the fisheries from 

 those cities and from other places in the colony. 2 Captain 

 John Hull, the famous mint-master of Massachusetts, gives 

 frequent reference in his diary to the success or failure of 

 numerous ketches and ships engaged in the fisheries or in 

 the carrying trade, in which he was interested either as 

 principal or part owner. 3 



The legislation of the period shows with what jealous 

 care the law makers regarded the fishing industry the 

 well-spring of their prosperity. In 1652, they provided 

 for "the appointment of sworn fish-viewers at every fishing 

 place within the jurisdiction, who were required to reject 



1 Anderson, Origin of Commerce, II, p. 513. 



2 Weeden, I, p. 247. 



3 American Antiquarian Society, III, pp. 141-317, passim. 



