22 THE IMPORTANCE OF 



the support of no inconsiderable portion of oar 

 population, who but for this employment, might 

 be left in destitute circumstances. Perhaps no 

 trade — no pursuit with the same amount of cap- 

 ital, employs so large number of our citizens, and 

 gives more encouraging impulses to enterprise and 

 exertion. The employment is not unfriendly to 

 the morals of those who engage in it. It has 

 been remarked, that every person on board a fish- 

 ing vessel, has an interest in common with his as- 

 sociates. Their reward depends upon their indus- 

 try and enterprise. Much caution is observed in 

 the selection of crews of fishing vessels, and it 

 often happens, that every individual is connected, 

 by blood and the strongest ties of friendship. They 

 are remarkable for their sobriety and good con- 

 duct, and they rank with the most skilful naviga- 

 tors. 



The celebrated Talleyrand, in speaking of our 

 fishermen, said, " Excepting the whalers, fishing is 

 an idle employment, requiring neither courage nor 

 skill ; the fishermen do not venture more than two 

 leagues from the coast, — the fisheries do not fur- 

 nish a nursery for seamen, they have no attach- 

 ment to their homes, they are cosmopolites, and a 

 few codfish more or less determine their country." 

 These remarks only show how ignorant a learned 

 man may be of facts which fall under the observa- 



