EARLY QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS OF SALEM. 6 



and New York, — settled in 162f) by a party of fishermen 

 who deserted Cape Ann, and found this an eligible seat 

 because the promontory on which we live has navigable 

 water and anchorage on either side, — the colonists lost no 

 time in establishing their familiar industry and making 

 themselves masters of the riches of the sea. Europe 

 was Catholic, and no less than one hundred and fifty- 

 three fast days had been set apart in the year, on which 

 it was lawful to eat fish only. As late as 1563 it was 

 penal for an Englishman to eat flesh on Wednesdays and 

 Saturdays without a government license. A century 

 later, in a code for Massachusetts printed in London in 

 1655, and preserved by Hutchinson, it is provided "Be- 

 cause fish is the chief Staple commodity of the Country" 

 that "fishermen, mariners and shipwrights shall be al- 

 lowed, man for man, some or other of the labourers of the 

 country to plant and reape for them'' for seven years, such 

 laborers to be appointed and paid by the treasurer of the 

 Commonwealth. Another century finds the two-penny 

 revenue stamp of 1755 inscribed with a codfish and the 

 legend "Staple of the Massachusetts," and as if in antici- 

 pation of all this. King James, when asking "what profit 

 should arise" from these settlements which should justify 

 the royal favor, Avas answered in the single Avord " Fish- 

 ing." To which the King replied : " So God have my soul, 

 'tis an honest trade, — 'twas the apostles' own calling." 



Thus, in the beginning, the colonists looked to fishing, 

 first, for the food on their tables, and, following the practice 

 of the natives, for a dressing for their gardens and fields, 

 and, next, for a valuable article of export trade which 

 brought them rich return cargoes from other colonies, 

 from the West Indies, and from the ports of Europe. 



Perhaps I can suggest in a few words the early magni- 

 tude and variety of our maritime interests, and thus jus- 



