12 



large amount, which has bern taken within the 

 last three or four months, has been thrown over- 

 board by the fishermen, to the great loss of them- 

 selves and the Public. 



The Committee mention the above circumstances 

 as they occur, in the course of a statement of 

 facts ; but feel it incumbent on them to add, from 

 observation, that a more anxious desire for assist- 

 ing the British Fisheries, and that deserving class 

 of persons who labour in them, can no where 

 more warmly be felt, than in that quarter where 

 they naturally look for their cjiief support and 

 encouragement. 



The measure which may next be mentioned is, 

 that of purchases made by the Committee of large 

 quantities of salt for sale to the fishermen, as the 

 particular circumstances of the fisheries may re- 

 quire it. The quantity of salt consumed in the 

 North Sea and Iceland stations had become very 

 considerable, and purchases proportionably large 

 were made by the Committee in the last year to 

 meet that demand, and further encourage their 

 exertions. Through the hinderances which have 

 been stated, so large a stock has been left on hand 

 that the Committee must at least have greatly 

 limited the amount of their encouragement for this 

 year, if indeed the contingencies of a measure which 

 had become so considerable, should have rendered 

 any attempt on this subject with their reduced 

 means at all advisable. 



