CHAPTER II 



THE BACKGROUND OF NEW ENGLAND COLONIZATION 



The fisheries of the North Atlantic have always occu- 

 pied an important place in the industrial development of 

 New England. They were well established along the coast 

 several years previous to the settlement of Plymouth. 

 During the period of settlement the fisheries were often the 

 only source of food supply for the colonists, and in several 

 instances they were largely instrumental in preventing set- 

 tlements from being broken up. With the growth of 

 colonial trade and the expansion of commerce the fisheries 

 early became the principal industry' of Massachusetts, and 

 their development was so rapid that they were recognized 

 as "the cornerstone of New England prosperity.' For 

 two centuries the fisheries were regarded as a prominent 

 factor in her industrial organism. 



They have been honored and honorable in our national 

 history. Fishermen formed the nucleus of our first navy, 

 and in four of the country's wars, they have furnished 

 officers and men who were leaders in their important call- 

 ing. For three-quarters of a century, the deep-sea fish- 

 eries were benefited by a system of bounties granted by 

 the government, and whenever our fishing rights upon 

 the high-seas have been in peril the country has been a 

 unit in supporting the contentions of the fishermen of 

 New England. Before tracing the development of the 

 fisheries of New England during the periods of colonial 

 and national life, it will be well to inquire into the impor- 

 tance of the fisheries before any English settlements had 



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