460 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



find the benefit of it afterwards, as has been abundantly 

 proved by the prosperity of the English fisheries. The 

 fact that it is the only article in this country of which the 

 Government attempts to guarantee the quality, alone ought 

 to condemn it. 



The abolition of it by second-class commercial nations 

 like Norway and Holland, ought to make us condemn it. 



Though the curing of herrings at sea is the most ex- 

 pensive method, yet it is by far the best ; and though, as a 

 rule, prejudice and opposition would at the present moment 

 ridicule the idea of the Scotch curing ever being carried on 

 in this manner, still, to those who give their attention 

 to the matter without prejudice, it appears to be only a 

 question of time, especially when the rapid development of 

 the Scotch fisheries is considered. The vast improvements 

 both in the size and build of the boats, and the great im- 

 provement which has been effected in the gear which they 

 carry, point in this direction, and may be taken as an 

 instance of what private enterprise will do without Govern- 

 ment aid. But, suppose that the Government granted a 

 bounty for every boat equipped for the fishing in the 

 present day, should we have seen this rapid development ? 

 Everything points to the negative, as the bounty would 

 have been in many instances the chief aim, not the fish, for 

 then a fisherman might have been satisfied with an old 

 small-class boat, which would enable him to catch only a 

 small quantity of fish, and trust to the bounty -to make up 

 the deficiency which a better boat would have enabled him 

 to earn. Similar objections would be raised to the abolition 

 of this system, were it in force, as there are to the abolition 

 of the brand. But the abolition of the old bounty system 

 has greatly increased the prosperity of the fishermen. A 

 first-class boat now commands a bounty or engagement 



