A HALF-CENTURY OF GROWTH 163 



than ten persons, and having been employed at sea ex- 

 clusively in the codfishery three and one-half calendar 

 months, three and one-half dollars per ton. 



The allowance to one vessel during the season, regardless 

 of her tonnage, should not exceed three hundred and sixty 

 dollars. 1 



Numerous attempts were made to have the act repealed, 

 but none was successful until July, 1866. Since that date 

 no allowances have been granted to vessels engaged in the 

 fisheries. The subject of the fisheries came up before Con- 

 gress in 1852 during the discussions that preceded the rati- 

 fication of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854. At the time 

 it was shown by those who were friendly towards the fishing 

 interests that there was need of bounties in supporting the 

 industry not only for its own sake but also because this was 

 the best means for supplying the navy and merchant ma- 

 rine of the nation with capable men and officers. In a 

 series of speeches made before the House of Representatives 

 the Hon. Zeno Scudder, congressman from Massachusetts 

 stated, ''the law of 1819 has continued to this time, and 

 under its protection there has been a gradual increase in 

 the business. It has, however, been smaller in comparison 

 with that of other departments of commerce ; showing that 

 with all the aid which the government has rendered, it is 

 still too poor in its returns to be followed to a great ex- 

 tent. ' Opposition to the granting of yearly allowances 

 to the fisheries was speedily quelled when it was shown by 

 the speaker that there were more than twenty thousand 

 fishermen in New England whose principal income was only 

 $76.89 per annum. 2 As five-eighths of the annual allow- 

 ance went to the crew of the vessel and only the remaining 

 three-eighths to the owners of the vessel, it is readily seen 

 that the law was intended primarily, and continued 



i Sabine, pp. 166-169. 



232nd Cong., 1st Sess., Vol. 29, pp. 919-920. (Aug. 12, 1852.) 



