362 DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 



We 



building 



been too common for veflels to fit out for the folc 

 purpofe of catching, not the fifh, but the bounty." 

 find the expence of a velTel of 60 tons, in 

 and fitting out for the fifhery, amounts 

 to . 957 o o 



The bounty on that Cze is gol. ex- 

 clufive of 2S. 8d. per barrel, on 

 herrings exported, oo o o 



. 867 o o 



Can it be fuppofed, that any man in his fenfes 

 would expend, in the firil inflance, nearly loool. 

 upon periihable articles, on the view of recovering, 

 during the enfuing year, a fum barely fufficient to 

 defray cuftom-houfe and other incidental expences 

 attending the fifhery. 

 The expence of fitting out, every 



fubfequent year, exclufive of the 



large fum originally funk in 



building the vefTel and boats, is, .313 o o 

 The return per bounty*. * . 90 o o 



f 223 O 6 



Were further arguments necefiary on this head, 

 we might appeal to the total failure of the eafl coun- 

 try, and the declining ftate of the weft country bufs 

 filneries. The Royal Britifh Company had at one 

 time in employ, 40 bufTes, on a capital of 120,000!. 

 a&ually paid, and a bounty of 505. per ton, befides 

 other privileges already enumerated ; yet they found 

 their capital gradually finking, and, in a fhort time, 

 wxre obliged to fell their veflels and materials, with 

 a lofs of 92-2- per cent. 



If an able body of merchants, gentlemen of land- 

 ed eftate, and other perfons of real property, aided 

 alfo by 505. per ton from government, were obliged 

 to diflblve,with the lofsof almoft their whole capital, 



in the fpace of a few years, is it to be fuppofed that 



/ 



* Soon after the firft publication of this book, a filly para- 

 graph appeared in the news-papers, fignifying, That the adventu- 

 rers, at convenient feafons, threw the herrings overboard, being fuf- 

 ficiently reimburfed, "and rewarded by the magnitude of the ton- 

 nage bounties. 







