HERRING FISHERIES. 19$ 



to the fugar iflands, and to thoufands of perfons 

 who now depended upon this branch, at home. 

 The fhock occafioned by the difappointment 

 was not only felt feverely by perfons immediately 

 concerned in the fifhery, and who had ftretchcd 

 their credit to their utmoft limits ; but alfo by their 

 neighbours, friends, and kinfmen ; by merchants, 

 coopers, blackfmiths, and other perfons who had 

 affixed them in the various operations and difburfe- 

 ments of the bufinefs. The unexpected flroke fell 

 particularly heavy upon thofe claires of men, who 

 build and navigate our (hips ; who fight our bar- 

 ties, protect our commerce, and defend our coaft. 

 From the fame caufe, alfo, hundreds of perfons, 

 whofe induftry would othcrwifc have been loft to 

 the public, now faw themfelves deprived of that 

 comfortable fubfiftence which their labours had re- 

 cently procured. The old and the young, perfons 

 of both fexes, and at either verge of life, who, 

 though unable or unqualified for other labours, 

 found employment in Ipinning hemp, net-mak.ing 

 gutting, packing, and other branches which the hfii- 

 ery affords. 



Such were fome of the confequences to various 

 descriptions of people, from inattention, or ill- 

 judged policy, in withholding the trifle which thofe 

 induftrious and ufcful members of the community 

 i right to expect. But the mifchief did not end 

 here. The nature of a fiihery requires a long prepa- 

 ration in a variety of expenfive articles, as (hip- 

 ping, boats, nets, cafks, and fair. Nearly 261 buf- 

 les had in 5 years been railed, through an exertion 

 fcarcely to be exceeded by any body of people in 

 thofe (rations of life, and under the fame fcanty cir- 

 cumftances. Thefe veflcls being in 1766 engaged in 

 a promifing fifhcry, and the bounty, till then, having 

 been well paid, a new fleet was confequcntly on the 

 (locks j timber, pitch, tar, fails, cordage, and fait 

 \rere provided, commiflioned, or on (hip-board. 



The coopers hid made, and were employed, al- 

 N 4 mod 



