HERRING FISHERIES. 253 



incentive of iol* of 15!. per boat ; of a difcretionarv 

 power at the fame time, to fupply the buffes, or to fail 

 immediately with their capture, to the Clyde, by 

 means of the propoied canal j judging from the 

 effects of thefe and other advantages, now in con- 

 templation, there can be no hazard in concluding 

 that the boats may hereafter increafe to double the 

 number that hath been on the fifheries without 

 thefe advantages, or 4000 boats, containing 20,000 

 men, and 4000 boys. 



As a nurlery of feamen the boat Rftjery will con- 

 fcquently exceed that of the bufles in numbers -, but, 

 oi\ the other hand, it cannot be put into competition 

 with the buffes in nautical knowledge. It may be 

 confidered as the firft ftep towards feamanfhip ; 

 which, without the fubfequent experience of the 

 bufTcs, leaves the men only one degree removed 

 from their original flare at the plough. 



A young man ifTues from the glens and wilds of 

 the Highlands, in order to mend his fortune -, he 

 engages with the mailer of a boat, for a feafon or 

 two; returns home with a little money, expatiates 

 on the wonders he hath feen, the dangers he hath en- 

 countered, and fancies himfelf qualified for entering 

 on board a decked veflel. Here, he is ridiculed as 

 a novice in his trade ; but that inherent principle of 

 honour fo conipicuous in Highlandmen, aided by the 

 excellent fchool a bufs navigation, qualifies him in 

 one feafon only,, to (leer by compafs, to work the fails, 

 and to perform the various operations of experienced 

 fearnen : he now, in turn, ridicules the boat-fiihers, 

 whom he calls land -lubbers ; and having feen the 

 (hipping of the Clyde, he becomes emulous of greater 

 preferment, and embarks upon a voyage to America, 

 or the Weil Indies, which completes his education. 

 By this gradation, the poor helplefs boy, inftead of 

 ftarving with his parents and kindred, amongft un- 

 frequented deferts in the Highlands, becomes a 

 moft ufeful member of the community, qualified, 



when 



