lOI 



grounds. Meantime, too, West, commissioned by this council to levy 

 a tax upon vessels that were found fishing or trading within the limits 

 of their domains, had appeared at Plymouth to execute his duties; but 

 unable either to collect tribute money, or to obtain a recognition of the 

 rights of his principals, he had departed the seas, insulted and dis- 

 comfited. 



The Pilgrims may have built their first vessel in 1641. Their cir- 

 cumstances considered, this was an affiiir of greater moment than the 

 construction of a first-class packet- ship at the present time. This 

 barque was of but forty or fitly tons, and the cost was estimated at 

 only c£200 ; yet there were thirteen owners and a building-committee 

 of four. The name has not been preserved. The same year, Mr. 

 John Jenny was allowed certain privileges at Clarke's island, to make 

 salt, which he was to sell to the mhabitants at two shilhngs the bushel ; 

 and "the herring wear was let for three years to three persons, who. 

 are to deliver the shares of herrings, and to receive one shilling and 

 sixpence the thousand for their trouble." Still further to promote the 

 manuficture of salt, the use of thirty acres of land, at the island, was 

 granted, in 1642, "to the five partners, for twenty-one years;" and^ 

 about the same time, leave was given to WiUiam Paddy and John 

 Hewes to erect fi.shlng-stages at a place which yet retains the name of 

 "Stage Point." 



Previous to 1650 the people of Hull were allowed to seine fish at, 

 Cape Cod; but some irregularities having occurred, the Plymouth 

 court passed an order of interdiction, and linfted the fishery there to 

 persons belonging to the towns of Plymouth, Duxbury, and Nauset,, 

 under restrictions intended to insure an "orderly course in the manage- 

 ment of it." 



Subject to continual annoyance and interruption by the fishermen of 

 Massachusetts, the court, in 166S, directed that a communication shouldi 

 be sent to the goverrnnent of that colony "to request them to take some 

 effectual care for the restraint of this abuse, as much as may be." The 

 property at Plymouth was "rated" the same year. All persons "en- 

 gaged about fishing" were "valued at twenty pounds estate." This 

 was high; inasmuch as Edward Gray, whose stock in trade was the 

 most valuable, was rated only "six score pounds." 



In 1670, a valuation was made of the "fish-boats," and four were 

 estimated at twenty-five pounds each. Though called boats — and 

 I suppose without decks — many, probably, were of several tons bur- 

 den, and could be safely employed at a distance from shore. The 

 fisheries, at this period, were considered as well established, and were 

 steadily and profitably pursued. 



Fifty years had now elapsed since the settlement of Plymouth. The 

 country, back firom the sea, was yet a wilderness. A generation, bon> 

 in tlie colony, had attained manhood. Religious worship was main- 

 tained in all the towns, but there were no public schools. Few of the 

 Mayflower Pilgrims were then alive; and the number of educated per- 

 sons was small. A proposition had been made, as appears by the pro- 

 ceedings of the court, to provide schoolmasters "to trciin up children to 

 reading and writing;" but without results. The profits of the mackerel, 

 bass, and herring fisheries at Cape Cod, were now granted to found a 



