HERRING FISHERY. * 



In 1774? the number of veflels fent out .amount- 

 ed to 165, and in 1776, to one hundred and feven- 

 ty-fix. From this brief expofition of the number of 

 veflels employed in the fifhery, it appears that a 

 great decline has taken place fincethe year 1601, 

 when 1500 veflels were fent out yearly from the 

 United Provinces. The caufe of this decline feems 

 to be the greater attention, which other nations 

 pay to this branch of fifhery. It remains, howe- 

 ver, certain, that the Dutch method of curing is 

 fuperior to that of their neighbours. The di- 

 minution of trade was neceflarily accompanied by 

 a proportional diminution of national profit ; 

 formerly thoufands were fupported by this branch 

 who are now out of employment. Government 

 omitted nothing that could revive this declining 

 branch of trade. Thus on the i Qth of May 1775, 

 the government offered a premium of five hun- 

 dred florins for any fhip, which fhould be em- 

 ployed two years fucceflively in the herring fifli- 

 cry, and for the lecond two years, 400 florins j 

 yet fome abufes happened in confequence, for 

 fome having got the premiums, difcontinued to 

 fend out their veffds. As the felling prices 

 of herrings vary with the feafon and plenty, it is 

 fcarce poflible to afcertain with exaftnefs the profits 

 of one voyage. We (hall, however, attempt au 

 average account, from which it will appear, that the 

 herring fifhery h worthy of every encouragement, 



a? 



