*8o HISTORY OF THE 



ther, had fuch annual tribute been appropriated 

 unalienably to the improvement of Scotland, and 

 particularly the Highlands, this noble ill and would 

 not have become a nurfery of manufacturers, farmers, 

 feamen, and fifhers to other countries, from want of 

 encouragement at home. 



An opportunity offered at the clofe of the late war, 

 for taking this matter into confideration, but it 

 feems to have been overlooked. Something may ftill 

 be done, by amicable negotiation, with a people who 



; owe their civil and religious liberties ; the rile of 

 their opulence, commerce, and navigation, to the 



I afliftance of England, and the fifheries of Scotland. 

 This feems to be the fenfe and the earneft wifti of 

 both kingdoms from the Thames northward. 



Of the Swedijh, Norway, Danifh, Prujftan, 

 and French Fijberies. 



The herrings, as hath been obferved, forfook the 

 Swedifh and German coafl about the beginning of the 

 1 6th century, a circumftance extremely favourable to 

 the Dutch, who thus faw themfelves without a rival, 

 the trifling exports from Yarmouth and Scotland ex- 

 cepted. At length, about 30 years ago, the herrings 

 returned to the coaft of Sweden, which they have con- 

 tinued to vifit with fuch regularity, (till 1784, when 

 no fifh appeared) that the rifhery hath become a capi- 

 tal object of the Swedilh commerce, , The Swedes 

 have not, however, adopted the Dutch v method of 

 cnring, and their herrings are fo greatly inferior, 

 that they fell in Stockholm at a farthing each ; 

 while thofe from Holland bring a penny, and are 

 ufed by the firft families of that capital. 



It is faid, that the Swedes have fallen upon a me- 

 thod of extracting oil from the herrings, and with, 

 confiderable profit to thofe who have engaged therein. 



The herrings have frequented the coafl of Nor- 

 way with greater regularity, but we know little of 

 their manner of curing. It is certain that the Danes, 



