HERRING FISHERIES. 1x7 



every fuperior who might choofe to opprefs them in 

 all their operations by land and water. 



This law, which feems to have been dictated by 

 perfons of no nautical knowledge, was equally dif- 

 couraging to the proprietors of the buflfes on the 

 weftern fide of the kingdom. The object which 

 government had principally in view by thefe boun- 

 ties, was the raifing a numerous body of intrepid, 

 hardy feamen, fkilled in the principles of practical 

 navigation, who might be ready upon every emer- 

 gency to man the royal navy. With this view it was 

 judged expedient to oblige the bufTes to remain on 

 the fifhing grounds during a given period, and there 

 to be employed in the exercife of fifhing. 



It hath already been obferved that there are two 

 methods of taking the herrings. Firft, the floating 

 fifheries, by conftantly dragging the fea, under fail, as 

 practifed by the Dutch. Secondly, the ftationary 

 or ground fisheries, upon the fhores, bays, or lakes, 

 where the bufles call anchor, and remain pafllve 

 during the whole period of the fifhery, which is per- 

 formed in the following manner. Every bufs hath 

 one, two, or three fmall boats and a proportionable 

 number of men and nets. From thefe boats the 

 nets are fufpended and hauled in fuccefiively, be- 

 tween fun-fet and day-light next morning, when 

 the men, fatigued and drenched in wet, board their 

 refpedive bufles. 



This method of fifhing, therefore, inftead of 

 training feamen, fubjects the men to unneceflary 

 hardfhips, the veflels to various accidents, the 

 owners to burdenfome expenditures in provifions, 

 liquors, and wages, while the merchants or purcha- 

 iers are equal, if not greater fufferers, by the delays 

 occafioned through this tedious method of procuring 

 cargoes. And, it is alfo certain, that though the bufles 

 are thus detained upon a fedentary fifhery, they fel- 

 dom return home with mgre than half their loading ; 



whereas 



