HERRING FISHERIES. 



tijfh bounty had encreafed from 19 to 294. The 

 fifhery was carried on inTurnmer, as well as in winter. 

 The money received from the merchants and the ex- 

 chequer circulated through every bay, lake, and chan- 

 nel ; extended to the cabins of the interior parts, 

 and reached the mod diftant iflands, when an un- 

 expected event, co-operating with the fcantinefs of 

 the bounty, once more involved thefc devoted men 

 in a feries of hardfhips and misfortunes. This w^s 

 the American, and afterwards, the French, Spanifh, 

 and Dutch wars ; a fevere and unexpected ftrok?, 

 unparalleled in former wars, and it is hoped will 

 never again happen at any one period of time. All 

 fupplies of (laves, tar, fait, and other materials, were 

 nearly cut off, and rofe to an exorbitant price ; which, 

 with the necefTity of an enlarged capital, rendered the 

 bufs fifhery a lofing trade to all thofe, without excep- 

 tion, who were unhappily engaged in it. 



The rife in the price of certain articles was thus, 



Before the During the 



war. 

 Spanifh and Portugal falt| , 



per bufhel J ^ 



Barrels for herrings 026 o 5 3 



per barrel 080 220 



, hemp per cwt. weight 1140 260 

 While feamens wages, provifions, and various ma- 

 terials, rofe to a height unknown in any former 

 period. The fifhery of courfc declined, and though 

 we are now at peace with mankind ; though the 

 bounty is now regularly paid ; the number of bufies 

 fitted out in 1783, amounted only to 153; and this 

 leads to an enquiry whether there do not exift cer- 

 tain obftru&ions to this, and all other Scottifh fifhc- 

 rics, which it would be expedient to remove. 



