OF THE FISHERIES. 



379 



^xpence of freight and port expences, are a fufficient 

 tax on this clafs of people, amongft whom there is 

 much diftrefs and mifery. 



As this duty alfo, was impofed on account of the 

 fait, it follows, that if the latter be abolifhed, the 

 former fhould ceafe. By this means two purpofcs 

 extremely effential to a trading nation will be gain- 

 ed ; the fiftieries will be increafed, and the labouring 

 people fupplied with cheap food, taken upon our 

 own coaft, and by our own people. 



But the home fale is comparatively trifling to the 

 channels that may be opened with foreign ftates, by 

 including fifh as an article of Britifh exports, in all 

 commercial treaties and arrangements with thofc 

 powers, particularly France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, 

 Germany, Poland, and Ruflla. 



Upon the fuppofition that government ihall take 

 thefe matters into ferious confideration, affording 

 every aid to the taking, and the fale of herrings ; and 

 that the adventurers ftrictly obferve the regulations 

 which experience hath pointed out as abfolutely ne- 

 ceflary in the various departments of that branch, 

 the herrings exported from Scotland to foreign parts, 



will probably amount to 



Barrels. Value. 



300,000 JT. 300,000 

 And the white fifti dried or 



wet, equal to ** 100,000 200,000 



. 400,000 500,000 



Men&Boyt. 



Which, including the fifhing for home 

 fale, will employ 300 bufles from 20 to 

 1 20 tons, fitted out from the eaft coun- 

 try, between Shetland and Berwick, na- 

 vigated upon an average by 14 men 

 each 4100 



3000 large 



