124 



somuch that men might frequently pass from one island to another upon 

 the ice."* 



The aspect of affiiirs was soon changed. The arrivals of articles of 

 necessity from England, the opening of the soil to husbandry, and the 

 building of vessels, affiirded the colonists ample relief in the course of 

 a few yeais. The "Blessing of the Bay," a little barque of thirty 

 tons, was launched as early as 1631. Her name indicates the feelings 

 of Governor Winthrop, who built her;t and relates in a word the story 

 of the pressing wants of his people.} This vessel proved the "bless- 

 ing" she was designed to be, and was the means of opening a com- 

 munication with the Dutch settlers in New York, as well as of main- 

 taining constant intercourse with various parts of Massachusetts. 



In 1633 a vessel was built at Boston, and called the "Trial:" three 

 3^ears after, the "Desire," of one hundred and twenty tons, was 

 launched at Marblehead. Another, of three hundred tons, was built 

 at Salem in 1640 ; and the fifth in the colony, at the same place, in 

 1642. Meantime, the Dove, a pinnace of about fifty tons, had made a 

 voyage to Boston, laden with corn, to barter away for fish, and what- 

 ever other commodities the colonists could spare. Such was the com- 

 mencement of the navigation and commerce of Massachusetts. 



Fish were exported from Boston, for the first time, I suppose, in 

 1633. The adventure was to a southern colony; and Governor Win- 

 throp appears to have been interested in the voyage. The vessel, 

 which was laden with furs as well as the products of the sea, was 

 wrecked on the outward passage when near the Capes of Virginia. 

 Another circumstance of interest occurred the same year, namely, the 

 conviction of '■'■the first notorious theif in Massachusetts ;''^ who, for steal- 

 ing fish, corn, and clapboards, was sentenced to the forfeiture of his 

 estate, to be whipped, to be bound as a servant for three years, and to 

 be afterwards at the disposal of the court. 



Mr. Cradock, though he never came to Massachusetts, established a 

 fishery at Mystick, and built a house at Marblehead, which was burned 

 in 1634, "there being in it Mr. Alleiton|| and many fishermen whom 

 he employed that season." Thus we connect the first governor who 

 was appointed under the patent, and the first governor who resided in 

 the colony, with the fisheries of Massachusetts, a branch of industry 



* RofTor Clap, in his Memoirs, speaking of tlie scarcity of provisions in 1630, says: " Many 

 a time, if I could have filled my belly, though with mean victuals, it would have been sweet 

 mito me. Fish was a good help unto me and others." * * * * "Oh! the hunger that many 

 suffered, and saw no hope in an eye of reason to be supplied, only by clams, andlnuscles, and 

 fish. We did quickly build boats, and some went a fishing." Again, he says : " Frost-fish, 

 muscles, and clams, were a relief to many." 



t It would appear from the instructions of the Massachusetts Company, iu 1629, that a vessel 

 was built previously : " And if yon send the ships to fish at the Bunk," say they, " and expect 

 them not to return again to the plantation, that then you send our bitrh that is already built in 

 the country to bring back our fishermen, and such provisions as they had for fishing," Ac, &c. 



t In 1()3;}, the Ilev. John Cotton, minister of Boston, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, the first 

 minister of Cambridge, and the liev. Samuel Stone, one of the first ministers of Harrford, 

 came over to America in the same vessel. On their arrivjil, the pi'ople were told that their 

 three great necessities were now supi))i<'d, for they had Cotton for their clothhig, Hooker for 

 their fisliiug, and Stone for their building." 



II The Plymouth Pilgrim who camo over iu the Mayflower. 



