HISTORY OP THE 



the obvious interpretation thereof; reprefented ttid 

 diftrefles, Ihould the bounty be withheld, to their fami- 

 lies, their creditors, and all the defcriptions of peo- 

 ple who had depended upon the words of the legif- 

 lature. Still greater was their furprife, when an ex- 

 planation of the words on or before was demanded 

 from council, and they were anfwered, that on or 

 before, meant on and not before* 



In this manner were thofe ufeful members of fo- 

 ciety thwarted and perplexed by the fervants of 

 the public, contrary to the intention of government, 

 and the fpirit of the law. But, however juflly they 

 might ridicule this explanation, there was no remedy 

 or redrefs. " Sir, if you do not comply with the law* 

 as explained by our council, you fhall not be entitled 

 to any bounty," was the language, or rather the 

 jargon of oppreffion, under which this fifhery flrug- 

 gled till 1779, when the adventurers triumphed 

 over thefe perfons, by virtue of an aft, empowering 

 them to be at the place of rendezvous any time be- 

 tween the firil day of Auguft, and the firil of Oc- 

 tober in each year. 



But even the law itfelf is flill defective in this 

 refpedt. Experience and obfervation have difcovered 

 that the herrings are filh of paffage; that at one 

 time they direct their courfe by the mainland, and 

 at another, by the iflands ; that the period and place 

 of their appearance, depend much on the ftate of 

 winds and weather ; that as they fwim ne.ir the furface> 

 the other elements as well as the fea, have great 

 influence upon their motions, as thunder and light- 

 ning, by which they are greatly affected. - Thefe 

 confiderations, therefore, afford unanfwerable ar- 

 guments in Favour of a free, difcretionary power to 



* Printed memorial of the adventurers in the Britifh white her- 

 ring fifhery, 



the 



