2i6 HISTOTIY OF THE 



which he fent to St. Martins in France, and brought 

 brandy and fait in return. Another merchant of the 

 name of Anderfon, firft imported white wines into 

 Glafgow, which he procured in exchange for his her- 

 rings. But the Clyde fifhery decayed after the union, 

 owing partly to the duties on imports and exports, 

 cuftom-houfe fees, and other clogs upon commerce, 

 in confequence of that treaty, by which the French 

 market was loft, and the friendship of that nation 

 alienated. Other caufes may alfo be afligned for 

 the decay of this fifhery ; particularly the failure of 

 the herrings, which are now feldom found in any 

 confiderable quantity j the growth of the Newfound- 

 land fifhery; and laflly, the rife of the trade to 

 America, which diverted the capitals of the merchants 

 to new channels, and gave full employment to the 

 feafaring and labouring people on the Clyde. The 

 demand, however, from Ireland, Stockholm, and 

 the Weft Indies, kept the fifhery alive, though in a 

 very limited degree, and in this ftate it remained 

 till the year 1750, when government adopted a new 

 method of reviving the Britilh fifheries in general, 

 by means of bounties. This encouragement would 

 have enfured fuccefs to the bufs fifhery, had not the 

 liberality of government been counterpoifed by the 

 checks before ftated, as well as thofe that remain 

 to be mentioned. 



By the bounty laws, the bufTes were prohibited 

 from purchaflng herrings from the Highland boats, 

 on penalty of forfeiting the bounty j and inftead 

 thereof, they were to fifh for the herrings themfelves, 

 till the expiration of three months from the time of 

 their clearing out, unlefs they had fooner completed 

 their loading. This reftraint was a grievous hard- 

 fliip to the poor natives, whofe fiflieries were thus 

 limited to their own confumption ; and the fupply of 

 the thinly inhabited wilds of their neighbourhood. 

 It ruined their fifhery, difcouraged induftry, and 

 left thefe unhappy people Tolely at the mercy of 



every 



