HERRING FISHERIES. 139 



fifhery, we fhall thereby make a transfer of the 

 whole, to Ireland, Holland, and Sweden, who will 

 be much obliged to us for a favour fo fignal and 

 unexpected, and it may be pofitively afTerted, that 

 fhould this fifhery be abandoned, the perfons who have 

 been brought up if! that line of life, will embrace 

 the flattering invitations of the Irifh government, 

 and carry their knowledge, their induflry, their 

 capital, and fhipping, to the contiguous county of 

 Donnegal, where they will be received with open 

 arms by the gentlemen of that coaft, who are ufmg 

 every means to invite them thither- 



Before I clofe this part of the fubjeft, it is necef- 

 fary to fuggeft the expediency of fome amendment 

 in the ftatutes refpecting the fize of vefTels fitted out 

 upon the bounty. By the prefent laws, the burden 

 of the bufles is not to be under 20 or above 80 tons. 

 In converfing with the adventurers, collectively, 

 it was propofed by fome, that the lowed burden 

 fhould be reduced to 15 tons or 80 barrels; but this 

 was oppofed by others in more opulent circum- 

 fiances. 



If to extend the take of herrings, and to 

 give employment to a greater number of peo- 

 ple, are objeds worthy the attention of parlia- 

 ment, the requeft of the inferior adventurers fhould 

 be granted. We have flated the great expence in 

 building and equipping veflels for the fifheries, 

 agreeable to the preient ftandards. It exceeds the 

 abilities of many, who, in other refpects, are well 

 qualified for that bufinefs. The good effects of this 

 indulgence would operate chiefly among the poor 

 natives on the weft fide of Cantire, and might, until 

 fome regular fettlements fhall be eftablifhed on thele 

 jfhores, prove a fubftitute for a boat fifhery. In fome 

 refpecls it would be preferable, particularly in being 

 able to filh at fea, to follow the herrings from place 

 to place, and to carry them to markets, inflead of 



being 



