344 HISTORY OF THE 



It may be argued by interefted people, that the 

 fifhermen in Shetland are fo very poor, that they 

 cannot purchafe fait, and the other neceflaries for 

 catching and curing fifh. This argument we readily 

 admit > as, in their prefent ilate they can hardly earn 

 a fcanty fubfiftence, but were they allowed to dif- 

 pofe of their fifh to the befl advantage, the intend- 

 ing purchafers would fupply them with every necef- 

 fary to be paid for in fifh next feaibn. 



The white fifhery on the coaft of Shetland is at 

 prefent confined to the inhabitants of thefe iilands. 

 A number of years paft, it was attempted to be car- 

 ried on from different towns on the river Clyde, by 

 means of vefieis from 30 to 50 tons burden, but as 

 all new undertakings are in general at firft attended 

 with many difadvantages to the adventurers, they in 

 their firfl attempts loft money by the bufmefs, were 

 difcouraged, and dropt it entirely. 



We are convinced, that was a bounty given by 

 government, equal to that allowed to the Greenland 

 fifhery, and feveral reftrictions with regard to fait 

 removed, for all vefTels from 20 to 80 tons burden, 

 properly equipped, employed in the white fifhery on 

 the coaft of Scotland^ that branch of bufinefs would 

 be profecuted with fpirit and vigour, and confe- 

 quently become a very great fource of wealth to the 

 nation, and one of the moft valuable nurferies for 

 feamen. 



As it is well known that great numbers of ling, 

 tufk, and cod-fiih frequent the weftern Highland 

 ides', or Hebrides, we, in the year 1776, fitted out 

 one vefTel of 64 tons, and another of 45 tons mea- 

 furement, in .order to profecute the white fifhing. 

 The largeft of thefe veffels carried 18 men, the other 

 14 men, and both were in every refpecl properly 

 equipped. They proceeded on their voyages the latter 

 end of March, and continued fifhing to the weft- 

 ward of the ifland of Barra, 3 months. Each of 

 the veiTeis caught a confiderable number of fifh, 



which, 



