ON THE ENGLISH SEA FISHERIES. 69 
ber of boats was not more than 1,500 fish per day—of course 
giving a mere fraction to each. In bygone years it was no un- 
common thing for the boats to come ashore with from 12,000 to 
14,000 herrings per boat, and they were taken close in land, 
while now the fishing is not carried on in water much less than 
fourteen fathoms deep. About fifteen years ago, the herrings 
were so plentiful that they were sold at 2s. 6d. per thousand. 
The lowest price last year (1862) was 20s., and in 1861 18s. per 
thousand. The reports from the Durham coast are to the same 
effect. 
From the Lincolnshire coast I learn that for the last two years 
the herring fishing has been a total failure. About two vears 
ago, tons upon tons of sprats, or rather small herrings, were 
brought into Boston and sold for manure. 
Cop anv Line. 
I now pass on to the second class of fish on my list, cod and 
ling. 
The cod fishery is a thoroughly historical one. As far back 
as the reign of Queen Elizabeth there were 260 ships employed 
in this fishery off Newfoundland. In 1663 a document was 
issued by Charles I., desiring the Lord Treasurer and others ‘to 
erect a common fishery for the nursery of seamen, which con- 
tained the first regulations for the governing of His Majesty’s 
subjects inhabiting Newfoundland and trafficking in the Bay.” 
Subsequent Acts were passed, which I have not time to notice. 
In 1814 the exports of fish and oil amounted in value to nearly 
three millions of money. I know not what the produce may be 
now, but the artificial stimulus of the bounty having been with- 
drawn, and in consequence of one of those curious instances of 
Governmental action which, done quietly and in too great ignor- 
ance of the subject on which action is taken, produce effects 
not thought of at the time, I should not be surprised to find 
that the English cod fishery on the distant Bank of Newfound- 
land is not nearly now what it was then in value. The circum- 
stance to which I refer is a treaty concluded between our Govern- 
ment and France in 1857, by which the English Government 
