REPORT. 177 



were accordingly appointed. It was then stated, to the astonish- 

 ment of most members of the legislature of Massachusetts, that 

 there were twenty thousand barrels of these fish pickled this 

 season. In a few years, the returns proved that there were thirty 

 thousand barrels put up for market. This fishery has been 

 gradually increasing, until, by the inspector-general's returns, it 

 appears that one hundred and ninety-seven thousand six hundred 

 barrels were inspected last year ; and the price has not diminished ; 

 but the demand for this food increased, and is enlarging. De- 

 ducting all expenses for the sales of this article, more than half a 

 million of dollars is made annually, yea, fished up from the bottom 

 of the ocean, by the industry and enterprise of our people, and 

 that, too, in a healthy employment. 



Suppose, then, we could open a market for these fish in South 

 America: the quantity, however large, would be all wanted, as 

 the great mass of the inhabitants would soon wish to change the 

 vegetable diet of their fast-days, for the more satisfactory and 

 nutritious food they would find in the fish-market. This is 

 proven from the fact, that Spain and Italy, with the West India 

 islands, have been the great consumers of our fish from the Grand 

 Banks and the Labradores, and have, in most instances, paid us 

 for them in specie. In 1744, thirty-two thousand quintals of cod- 

 fish were sent from New England to Europe this was of a 

 superior quality and three thousand and twenty hogsheads of 

 tol qual. to the West Indies. 



That the traffic in sea-otter-skins has been very profitable, Is 

 conceded on all hands ; but from the secrecy of the first naviga- 

 tors into that ocean, the precise extent of it cannot be ascertained. 

 These valuable skins were at first bought up from the natives on 

 the Northwest, for a mere trifle, in red cloth, glass beads, a piece 

 of cutlery, &c., but not so of late these skins being from forty 

 to seventy dollars, and more, in China. The most experienced 

 men in this trade put the amount of it since it was first begun, 



23 



I - > 



'" J : ijfe?'.' 



