124 



somuch that men might frequently pass from one island to another upon 

 the ice."* 



The aspect of affairs was soon changed. The arrivals of articles of 

 necessity from England, the opening of the soil to husbandry, and the 

 building of vessels, afforded the colonists ample relief in the course of 

 a few years. The "Blessing of the Bay," a little barque of thirty 

 tons, was launched as early as 1631. Her name indicates the feelings 

 of Governor Winthrop, who built her;t and relates in a word the story 

 of the pressing wants of his people.^ This vessel proved the "bless- 

 ing" she was designed to be, and was the means of opening a com- 

 munication with the Dutch settlers in New York, as well as of main- 

 taining constant intercourse with various parts of Massachusetts. 



In 1633 a vessel was built at Boston, and called the "Trial:" three 

 years after, the "Desire," of one hundred and twenty tons, was 

 launched at Marblehead. Another, of three hundred tons, was built 

 at Salem in 1640; and the fifth in the colony, at the same place, in 

 1642. Meantime, the Dove, a pinnace of about fifty tons, had made a 

 voyage to Boston, laden with corn, to barter away for fish, and what- 

 ever other commodities the colonists could spare. Such was the com- 

 mencement of the navigation and commerce of Massachusetts. 



Fish were exported from Boston, for the first time, I suppose, in 

 1633. The adventure was to a southern colony; and Governor Win- 

 throp appears to have been interested in the voyage. The vessel, 

 which was laden with furs as well as the products of the sea, was 

 wrecked on the outward passage when near the Capes of Virginia. 

 Another circumstance of interest occurred the same year, namely, the 

 conviction of "/!/«e first notorious theif in Massachusetts f who, for steal- 

 ing fish, corn, and clapboards, was sentenced to the forfeiture of his 

 estate, to be whipped, to be bound as a sei-vant for three years, and to 

 be afterwards at the disposal of the court. 



Mr. Cradock, though he never came to Massachusetts, established a 

 fishery at Mystick, and built a house at Marblehead, which was burned 

 in 1634, "there being in it Mr. Al]erton|| and many fishermen whom 

 he employed that season." Thus we connect the ffrst governor who 

 was appointed under the patent, and the first governor who resided in 

 the colony, with the fisheries of Massachusetts, a branch of industry 



* Roger Clap, in his Memoii's, speaking of the scarcity of provisions in 1630, says: " Many 

 a time, if I could have filled my belly, though with mean victuals, it would have been sweet 

 unto me. Fish was a good help unto me and others." * * * * " Oh ! the hunger that many 

 suffered, and saw no hope in an eye of reason to be supplied, only by clams, and muscles, and 

 fish. We did quickly build boats, and some went a fishing." Again, he says : "Frost-fish, 

 muscles, and clams, were a relief to many." 



t It would appear from the instructions of the Massachusetts Company, in 1G29, that a vessel 

 was built previously: "And if you send the ships to fish at the Rank,'" say they, " and expect 

 them not to return again to the plantation, that then you send our hark that is already built in 

 the country to bring back our fishermen, and such provisions as they had for fishing," &c., &c. 



t In 1633, the Rev. John Cotton, minister of Boston, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, the first 

 minister of Cambridge, and the Rev. Samuel Stone, one of the first ministers of Hartford, 

 came over to America in the same vessel. On their arrival, the people were told that their 

 three great necessities were now supplied, for they had Cotton for theii" clothing, Hooker for 

 their fishing, and Stone for their building." 



II The Plymouth Pilgrim who came over in the Mayflower. 



