70 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



to the deep-sea fishing off the coasts of Newfoundland and 

 Labrador. For several years previously they had visited 

 the fishing grounds of Nova Scotia from Cape Sable to 

 Canso. The development of their industry in this region 

 brought them into contact with a class of maritime neigh- 

 bors, who frequented the banks of Newfoundland as did 

 their old-time rivals the French fishermen of Acadia. 

 Their relations with the English seem to have been 

 friendly and needs but a passing glance. With the French 

 it was a different matter, for the bitter rivalry between 

 the French and the subjects of Great Britain continued 

 with unabated fury until it became necessary, at last, for 

 one nation to retire from the scene of action. 



The New England fishermen arrived at Newfoundland in 

 1670. The condition of the English fisheries was low at 

 that time, it having been on the decline for several years. 

 In 1605, there were sent over from England to Newfound- 

 land 250 vessels; in 1670, the number had diminished to 

 eighty. The Massachusetts fishermen on the contrary made 

 phenomenal progress in half a decade. To explain the 

 failure of one class of fishermen during this period is to 

 account largely for the success of the other. 



The cause for the decline was attributed by a celebrated 

 writer of the day, Sir Josiah Child, to the greater liberty 

 in regard to eating fish in Lent and on other fish days; 

 to the increase in the boat fishing on the coast by the 

 Newfoundlanders ; and to the great increase of the French 

 fisheries at Placentia, Newfoundland. As a remedy it was 

 suggested that the depopulation of the island was the best 

 way to insure an increase in the number of vessels sent 

 to the fishing grounds annually from England. 1 This 

 view was finally adopted by the Lords of Plantations, who 

 determined to break up and depopulate the colony. Sir 

 John Barry was sent over with orders to drive out the 



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



