THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 91 



the number of persons employed in the English Newfound- 

 land fishery at this time as ten thousand, and the annual 

 profit of the industry as $2,000,000. These computations 

 include all persons employed in fishing, curing, packing, 

 etc., except those belonging to the colonies. 1 The annual 

 catch of the New England fisheries at this time, as already 

 indicated, was about 230,000 quintals of dried fish. 



An important agency in arousing the people of New 

 England to the gravity of the situation was a pamphlet 

 entitled "the importance of Cape Breton to the British 

 nation and a plan for taking the place. " Robert 

 Auchmuty, an eminent lawyer of Boston and judge of ad- 

 miralty, was the author of the paper. The ideas set forth 

 in the paper were, doubtless, nothing more than the public 

 opinion of New England on the important subject ex- 

 pressed in attractive form. It was instrumental in arous- 

 ing other men to devise plans for the capture of Cape 

 Breton. 



Among the foremost of these was William Vaughn, of 

 Damariscotta, Maine. He was a graduate of Harvard 

 College, had established a fishing station at Matinicus, and 

 was a prosperous dealer in fish and lumber. His acquaint- 

 ance with Louisburg and his hatred for the French helped 

 him to devise a plan of campaign for the capture of the 

 city. This "mad scheme " was laid before Governor 

 Shirley, of Massachusetts. After some hesitation on the 

 part of the authorities the scheme was set on foot and all 

 New England joined in the contemplated expedition. En- 

 thusiasm was unbounded. In Massachusetts men enlisted 

 as in a crusade. Merchants hoped to increase their for- 

 tunes by making better markets possible in Europe. Mili- 

 tary officers were ambitious for distinction. Fishermen 

 looked for revenge on the French for past insults and in- 

 juries. For commander of the expedition the governor 



i Bollan, pp. 54-65. 



