144 



THE RELATIONS OF THE STATE WITH 



The great maritime power of Venice, again, practically 

 owed its origin to the fisheries in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood, and in the Adriatic generally. 



While Venice was at the zenith of its power the fisheries 

 of Norway were rapidly developing their wealth, exciting 

 the greed of rival princes, and giving occasion for more 

 than one sanguinary war. The maritime enterprise of the 

 Scandinavians was largely fostered by the familiarity with 

 the sea which they acquired in the prosecution of their 

 fisheries, which, while for centuries forming one of their 

 principal industries and sources of wealth, have had a direct 

 effect upon their commercial and political history. 



Turning for a moment to the New World, we find the 

 fisheries of Canada and of the United States engaging a 

 large share of the attention of both people and State. The 

 early importance of the English colonies in America was 

 centred in their fisheries. A hundred years ago the Legis- 

 lature of this country enacted the most stringent laws to 

 prevent settlement on the shores of Newfoundland or the 

 mainland adjoining, while it encouraged British fishermen, 

 by the offer of considerable " bounties," to prosecute the 

 fisheries there. At the present day Canada, Newfoundland, 

 and the United States vie with each other in their efforts 

 to encourage and protect their respective fisheries, whose 

 importance is attested by the serious questions of inter- 

 national comity which they have involved. 



In our own country the fisheries have, from time to time, 

 commanded the earnest attention of the State on different 

 grounds, and legislation on the subject has passed through 

 at least three distinct phases, which may be defined as : 



1st. Restrictive or Protective. 



2nd. Promotive. 



3rd. Administrative or Regulative. 



