THE FISHERIES. 169 



The Scottifh parliament had alfo, during the 

 thi > igns, patted iundry afts for ere&ing com- 



panies and promoting the fiftieries ; but the inteftine 

 commotions of that country, and the great exertions 

 which were made for the Darien eilablifhment, 

 enfeebled all other attempts, whether collectively, 

 or by individuals, within that kingdom. 



In 1749, his late mnjdly having, at the opening 

 of the parliament, warmly recommended the im- 

 provement of the fifheries ; the houfe of commons 

 appointed a committee to enquire into the (late of 

 the herring and white fifheries, and to confider of 

 the moll probable means of extending the fame. 



All ranks of men were elevated with an idea f 

 the boundlefs riches that would flow into the king- 

 dom from this fource ; a fubfcription of 500,000!. 

 was immediately filled in the city, by a body of 

 men who were incorporated for twenty-one years, by 

 the name of The Society of the Free Britifl) Fifiery. 

 Every encouragement was held out by government, 

 both to the fociety and to individuals, who might 

 embark in this national bufmefs. A bounty of thirty 

 fix (hillings per ton was to be paid annually out of 

 the cuftoms, for fourteen years, to the owners of all 

 decked veffels or buftes, from 20 to 80 tons burthen, 

 which fhould be built after the commencement of 

 the acl, for the ufe of, and fitted out and employed 

 in the faid filheries, whether by trie fociety or any 

 ifltfier perfons. At the fame time numerous pam- 

 phlets and news-paper efiays c .11 prmrit- 

 ro elucidate the iutjjrffcghttid the 

 public with what facility the hen ; might 

 be transferred from Dutch to Britiih i 



This proved, however, a ; ' (k than 



had been foreieen by fuperficia! : >; The 



Dutch were frugal in their expenditures aml'lMfeg^ 

 perfedl mafters of the arts of fifhing and curing, 

 which they had carried to the greaiefl height a 

 perfection. They were in full poflcflion of the Eu- 

 ropean 



