HERRING FISHERIES. 249 



draw thither adventurers with their capitals, from 

 all parts of the kingdom, to purchafe the her- 

 rings, to fupply the merchants, furnifh the na- 

 tives with provifions, boats, netting, and other ne- 

 ceflaries required in the refpective diftricts -, and 

 who would alfo erect buildings for themfelves, and 

 the people. 



To thefe fuggeftions it may be obferved, that tho* 

 perfons poflefled of fome property might be drawn 

 thither upon fpeculation, a greater number would 

 become adventurers without any property. That the 

 former, inflead of finking their capital on houfe-build- 

 ing in a remote barren country, would referve it for 

 the more quick returns to be expected from trade j 

 ftill lefs would they be difpofed to erect quays, ware- 

 houfes, and other public works, however necefiary 

 in the firft inftance, for the purpofes of trade and 

 (hipping. 



But the principal, andalmoft unanfwerable objec- 

 tion, to this method of eftabliftiing a boat fifhery in 

 the Weft Highlands, arifes from the great extent of 

 coaft on the mainland, and the ftill more extenfive 

 fhores of 300 iflands, which give the herrings an un- 

 bounded fcope wherein to range, and renders their 

 arrival at any particular fpot extremely uncertain. 

 Let us fuppofe the new adventurers to have taken 

 their ftation at Loch Broom, with all the neceffary 

 materials of boats, fait, cafks, provifions, &c. in 

 the purchafe of which they had expended their capi- 

 tal in the expectation of a fpeedy and profitable 

 return from the quantity of herrings taken, and the 

 magnitude of the bounty to be received thereon. 

 The feafon approaches; an unfriendly wind carries the 

 fhoal by other channels j no herrings appear in Loch 

 Broom, or within 50 miles of it; all the fanguine 

 hopes of the adventurers vanifh j they blame their 

 own credulity, and abandon the unfociable heathy 

 defcrts. 



But 



