HERRING FISHERIES. 179 



the Europeans but one, and all the reft of the world 

 none. How can this better appear than out of their 

 labours and our fifh only ? 



cc They have encreafed the number of veflels ; 

 they have fupplied the world with food, which other- 

 wife would have found a fcarcity ; they have advanced 

 trade fo abundantly, that the wealth of fubjedb and 

 the cuftoms of princes have found the benefit of it j 

 and laftly, they have thus provided for themfelves, 

 and all people of all forts, though they be impotent 

 and lame, that want employment, or that are forced 

 to feek work for their maintenance. 



" And becaufe their quantity of fifh is not to be 

 vended in their own provinces, but to be difperfed 

 in all parts of Europe, I will give you an account 

 of it, as it hath been carefully obferved and taken 

 out of the cuftom-houfe books beyond the feas. * 



" In four provinces within the Sound, viz, Ko- 

 ningfberg, Melvin, Stetin, and Dantzick, there is 

 vended in a year betwixt 30 and 40,000 lafts of her- 

 rings -, which will amount to more than 620,000 

 pounds; and we none. 



" Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Leifland, Rie, Re- 

 gel, Narpe, and other towns within the Sound, take 

 off above 10,000 kfts, worth 160,000 pounds. 



" The Hollanders ftnd into Ruflia above 1500 

 lafts of herrings, fold at 27,000 pounds ; and we 

 not above thirty or forty lafts. 



" Stode, Hamburgh, Bremen, Embden, and upon 

 the river Elbe, in fifh and herrings above 6000 lafts, 

 fold at 100,000 pounds; and we none. 



" Cleveland, Juliers, up the river Rhine, Frank- 

 fort, Cologne, and over all Germany, in fifh and 

 herrings near 22,000 lafts, amounting to 440,000 

 pounds ; and we none. 



* This account is equally curious and interefling, as it points 

 put the markets then cxiiling, and which (till remain, though in 

 a lefler dtgrce. 



M 2 " GO 



