20 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



been made in this region, and to note the influences that 

 these fisheries had, both direct and indirect, in shaping 

 the colonization of New England. 



The importance of the fisheries carried on by European 

 countries in American waters previous to the settlement at 

 Plymouth is not generally recognized. In 1497, John 

 Cabot announced to Europe the abundance of codfish at 

 Newfoundland. Within seven years, at least, the fisher- 

 men of France had taken advantage of Cabot's discovery 

 by sending vessels to the fishing grounds of America, and 

 every year for more than four centuries the flag of France 

 has been carried by French fishermen to the banks of New- 

 foundland. Nearly a score of years before De Soto first 

 saw the Mississippi River, houses for the accommodation 

 of fishermen had been erected in Newfoundland. The 

 year that Drake sailed from England on his memorable 

 voyage around the world witnessed also the quiet de- 

 parture from the harbors of Europe of over 300 ships to 

 fish in American waters. Before the pioneer voyages of 

 Gosnold and Pring and De Monts had been made and re- 

 corded, the hardy fishermen of western Europe had made 

 thousands of voyages across the Atlantic with scarce a 

 thought of the hardships of their trips, and scarce a word 

 written to chronicle their deeds. 



The influence of these voyages was felt on both sides 

 of the Atlantic. The Parliament of England passed legis- 

 lation favorable to the development of the fisheries. In 

 France, the Newfoundland codfishery was placed under 

 the protection of the government. Disputes and blood- 

 shed occurred on the fishing grounds between the fisher- 

 men of France and England. Both countries were 

 quickened in their attempts at colonization in America. 

 The coasts of New England were explored, bays and har- 

 bors were named, and the severity of the winter climate 

 was tried by Europeans who were eager to develop this in- 



