HISTORYOF THE 



the month of April to September, when the weather 

 obliges them to give over fiihing; on this fhoal Mr. 

 Gneme founded, and fpoke with the fifhers. 



cc In fhort, there feems to be a general opinion, 

 fupported by a multitude of facts, that there are ex- 

 ceedingly profitable banks off of thefe coafts, though 

 their limits are not afcertained. Mr. M'Kenzie, 

 whofe authority will be of confiderable weight, is 

 perfuaded of if, and he thinks they run almoft pa- 

 rallel to Ireland, and extend all the way from Shet- 

 land to the Nymph bank off Waterford ; others ap- 

 prehend they run in a contrary direction towards the 

 banks of Newfoundland, and even extend the whole 

 of that way. 



fc At all events, this deferves a further examina- 

 tion, for if the banks are found within 30 leagues of 

 our coaft, the filhers on them will be entitled to the 

 benefits of the Iriili bounties. 



" And here, as I am upon the f object of examin- 

 ing our coafts, I cannot avoid taking notice of the 

 good will of England, and the liberality of its par- 

 liament towards Ireland in another meafure of the 

 Jaft feffion ; the Lords of the Admiralty had for many 

 years employed a very (kilful officer, Mr. Murdoch 

 M'Kenzie, to make iurveys of the whole coaft of 

 Ireland, with the foundings, views, and all things 

 nectffary for the moil perfect charts; and this work 

 being completed, the parliament laft year voted 

 2038!. for the publifliing of them, and the work is 

 now in great forvvardnefs. And this I confider as a 

 very ufeful favour, for which this nation is in a con- 

 fiderable degree indebted to the noble Lord who 

 prefides at prefent among the Lords Commiffioners 

 of the Admiralty. 



" The reft of the work in fearching for thefe. 

 banks, and taking their foundings at fea, ought to 

 be done by this country, and may be accompliilied 

 at a very moderate expence, either by one of the re- 

 venue 



