THE FISHERIES. 21 



and Plymouth, contain many provisions as singular 

 as they are absurd. In the almost endless variety 

 of detail, however, certain general principles have 

 been settled in a manner to prevent angry and 

 unprofitable litigation. 



In relation to our sea-coast fisheries, the statutes 

 and general principles are highly important, and 

 new acts of legislation should be adopted with 

 great caution. Our citizens would regard with 

 extreme sensitiveness any enactments which might 

 tend to abridge, under the appearance of enlarg- 

 ing their privileges. Whatever may be the right, 

 our hardy and enterprising fishermen, for the 

 sake of an exclusive privilege of fishing on our 

 own shores, would scarcely wish to abstain from 

 carrying their successful industry into the mouths 

 of the bays and harbors of New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia. 



In relation to the general subject, however,' it 

 must be apparent, that the fisheries of this Com- 

 monwealth are of vital importance to its interests. 

 There are many views of it, showing the depend- 

 ance of other branches of manufactures and trade 

 on them, which cannot now be presented. The 

 direct advantages are numerous. Taking into 

 consideration the amount of capital invested in 

 them, they ^ield a fair income which is divided 

 among a large number of persons, contributing to 



