DEFENCE OF THE BUSS FISHERY. 363 



gerfons, in a fubordinate line, can get fuch wealth 

 by the bufmefs, as to fifti, not for the herrings, but 

 for a diminifhed bounty of 305. and under the va- 

 rious reftraints before mentioned ? 



In fpeaking of companies, great allowances are to 

 be made on account of frauds, neglects, &c. but, 

 while this company exifted, there were alfp indivi- 

 dual adventurers on the eait coaft, who enjoyed the 

 fame bounties and privileges. If the bounty now at 

 305. be very advantageous, how happens it, that 

 only 3 veflels annually have been fitted out of late 

 between the Thames and the Shetland Iflands on the 

 bounty ? Men generally purfue fuch branches as 

 are found in the experiment to be profitable. If the 

 money received from government, and by the fale of 

 fifh, was fufHcient, after reimburfing the expence, to 

 afford even a moderate profit, the whole eaft country 

 of Scotland would be lined with decked veflels for 

 the bufs filhery. 



The doctor is equally unfortunate in the follow- 

 ing propofitions : " When the undertakers of fifhe- 

 ries, after fuch liberal bounties have been beftowed 

 upon them, continued to fell their commodity at the 

 fame, or even at a higher price, than they were ac- 

 cuftomed to do before, it might be expeded that 

 their profits fhouid be very great ; and it is not im- 

 probable that fome of thole individuals may have 

 been fo. In general, however, I have every reafon 

 to believe they have been quite otherwife. The 

 ufual effect of fuch bounties is to encourage rafh un- 

 dertakers to adventure in a bufinefs which they do 

 not underftand ; and what they lofe by their own 

 negligence and ignorance, more than compenfates 

 all that they can gain by the utmoft liberality of go- 

 vernment." 



Is the dodlor to be informed, that, previous to 

 the asra of the bounties, the fifheries of the Clyde, 

 Lochfine, and the Weft Highlands were more certain 

 and plentiful, particularly in the Clyde, confequendy 

 the people were at lefs expence, and had lefs 

 trouble in fearching from place to place after the 



