x PREFACE. 



merchants of thofe ports immediately fitted 

 out veflels, and took herrings fufficient for 

 all the country. From that time the 

 French have taken every meafure to im- 

 prove their fifherks, in which capital arti- 

 cle of commerce they have been increaf- 

 ing ever fince the treaty of Utrecht, and 

 have become our moft dangerous rivals 

 herein. 



" About ten miles below Aftracan," fays 

 the ingenious and public fpirited Mr. 

 Hanway, " is a fmall ifland, called Bof- 

 * c makoff, remarkable for its large ftore- 

 " houfes of fait, which is made about 

 u twelve miles to the Eaftward of it. In 

 " this place are very large fisheries. The 

 ** firft eftablifher /of them was Tokin 

 " Demedoffa, a common carrier, who fet- 

 " tied there about fifty years ago ; his 

 '* whole fortune then confifted of two 

 " horfes, but through his induftry and 

 " ability, he became the greateft mer- 

 < f chant in that country. The crown, 

 " which, before his time, was a ftranger to 

 * thefe advantages, has, of late years, be- 



" fides 



