SCOTTISH WHITE FISHERIES. 347 



Extratt of a Letter figned by the Magijlrates and prin- 

 cipal Adventurers in Campbell own. 



The herring filhing is commonly finilhed, and 

 the herrings fent to market, about the middle or latter 

 end of January, when near two thirds of the crew 

 are difcharged, 6 men being fufficient to navigate 

 a veflel of 60 tons in the coafting trade, that will re- 

 quire 14 men when employed as a bufs. Thefe dif- 

 charged men either ftarve at home, till the next fifh- 

 ing feafon, or adopt the more frequent alternative of 

 feeking employment in America, or other foreign 

 countries. To keep thefe at home, and in employ- 

 ment during the fpring and part of fummer, it 

 would be expedient to give fome public encourage- 

 ment to the cod and ling rifhery, which might be 

 purfued with fome profpeft of fuccefs upon the 

 coafts of the Hebrides. An eftimate of the expence 

 of equipping a veflel for this fifhery will likewife be 

 furnilhed to Mr. Knox. 



ExtraR from the Report of a practical Fijberin Sir an- 

 rawer ; which I took down from his verbal Declara- 

 tion, viz. 



That he was lately in a veflel of 16 tons upon the 

 white fifhery in the Hebrides ; that he confide rs this 

 fifhery of greater importance than is generally under- 

 flood, but it labours under many inconveniencies, 

 not only from the fait laws, but alfo from fundry 

 proprietors of the fhores, who levy fuch iums as 

 their avarice ftimulates, upon the poor filhers, and 

 even the boats of their own tenants. Every veflel 

 or boat muft pay a fum for permiflion to dry the fifh 

 on the rocks of the fhores, and alfo liberty to dig up 

 the fand for bait, though within the fea mark, and 

 confequently no detriment to the proprietors. 



That 



