101 



grouR(^s. Meantime, too, West, commissioned by ihis council to levy 

 a tax upon vessels that were found fishing or trading witliin the limits 

 of their domains, had appeared at Plymouth to execute his duties; but 

 unable either to collect tribute money, or to obtain a recognition of the 

 rights of his principals, he had departed the seas, insulted and dis- 

 comfited. 



The Pilgrims may have built their first vessel in 1G41. Their cir- 

 cumstances considered, this was an affair of greater moment than the 

 construction of a first-class packet- ship at the present time. This 

 barque was of but forty or fifty tons, and the cost was estimated at 

 only .£200 ; 3'et there were tliirteen owners and a. building-committee 

 of tour. The name has not been preserved. The same year, Mr. 

 John Jenny was allowed certain priviU^ges at Clarke's island, to make 

 salt, wliich he was to sell to the inhabitants at two shilUngs the bushel; 

 and " the herring wear was let for three years to three persons, who 

 Bie to deliver the shares of herrings, and to receive one shilHng and 

 sixpence the thousand for their trouble." Still further to promote the 

 manuficture of salt, the use of thirt\^ acres of land, at the island, was 

 granted, in 1642, "to the five partners, for twenty-one years;" and 

 about the same time, leave was given to William Paddy and John 

 Hewes to erect fishing-stages at a place which yet retains the name of 

 "Stage Point." 



Previous to 16-50 the people of Hull were allowed to seine fish at 

 Cape Cod; but some u-regularities having occurred, the Plymouth 

 court passed an order of interdiction, and limited the fishery there to 

 persons belonging to the towns of Plymouth, Duxbury, and Nauset, 

 under restrictions intended t9 insure an "orderly course in the manage- 

 ment of it." 



Subject to continual anno3'ance and interruption b\' the fishermen of 

 Mfissachusetts, the court, in 166S, directed that a communication should 

 be sent to the government of that colony " to request them to take some 

 eflfectual care for the restraint of this abuse, as much as may be." The 

 property at Plymouth was "rated" the same year. All persons "en- 

 gaged about fishing" were "valued at twenty pounds estate." This 

 was high; inasmuch as Edward Gra\', whose stock in tiade was the 

 most v.-duable, was rated only "six score pounds." 



In 1670, a valuation was made of the "fish-boats," and four were 

 estimated at twenty-five pounds each. Though called boats — and 

 I suppose without decks — many, probably, w'cre of several t(ms bur- 

 den, and could be safely ern[)loyed al a disf;ince from shon\ The 

 fisheries, at this period, were considered as well established, and were 

 steadily and profitably pursued. 



Filiy years had now elapsed since the settlement of Plymouth. The 

 countiy, l)ack from the sea,, wtts yet a wilderness. A generation, born 

 in the colony, had attained manhood, j{('lii::i()us worship was main- 

 tained in aj] the towns, but there were no jniblic schools. Vv.w of the 

 Mayfl(»wer i'ilgrims were then alive; and the number of educated per- 

 sons was sm.iU. A propfisition had l)een made, as appears by the pro- 

 ceedings of the court, to provide schoolmasters "to train up children to 

 reading and writing;" l)nt widiout results. The profits of the mackerel, 

 bass, imd herring fisheries at Cape Cod, wore now granted to fbuud a 



