1062 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The state of the British Fishery, from 1699 to 1729, exhibits the 

 same rise and fall, as will appear by the following 



OFFICE OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL FOB TRADE, I 



Whitehall, 19th March, 1792. ) 



The occasional decline of the British fisheries appears to be ac- 

 counted for by a variety of causes. The true causes French and 

 American competition and large bounties are scarcely noticed. It 

 was confidently stated that it was owing to the resident population 

 not exceeding in those days from five to ten thousand. A report of 

 the Lords of the Privy "Council of trade states, in 1718, that the 

 indulgence shewn to the planters in 1677, by permitting them to 

 remain in the country, rendered the Charter ineffectual, reduced the 

 fishery to the lowest ebb, and favoured both the French and the New 

 Englanders in carrying on the fishing trade. The same Report in 

 further accounting for the decline of the British Fisheries, attributed 

 it mainly to the neglect in not enforcing the 10th article of the Char- 

 ter of Charles I., which ordains 



" That no person shall set up any Tavern, for selling Wines, Beer, 

 &c. to entertain the Fishermen, &c. ; and it is as certain that the 

 flourishing state of the fishery trade during the aforesaid period, was 

 in a great measure, owing to this wholesome prohibition ; for, as long 

 as it was maintained, so long the trade prospered; and it was no 

 sooner dispensed with, than the trade sensibly declined ; and although 

 the planters were afterwards kept in awe for some time by the Char- 

 ters that were granted by King Charles IT. which confirmed the said 

 prohibition, nevertheless, when that difficulty was surmounted, and 

 they were at liberty to pursue their own measures, the fishery imme- 

 diately languished." 



The true cause of the falling off of the British fishery may be at- 

 tributed to the unequal competition with which it had to contend 

 from foreigners, their fisheries on the Newfoundland coast have been 

 invariably supported by large bounties and other encouragements. 

 It can be much more satisfactorily accounted for in that way, than 

 to attribute it to the settlement of the Island, a resident population, 



