2 IMPORTANCE OF THE KNOWLEDCxE OF 



that " the coffee bean, the tea leaf, the spices of the 

 Torrid Zone, and the silkworm, have less influence on 

 the wealth of nations than the herring of the northern 

 seas. Luxury and caprice may seek those productions, 

 but necessity requires the other. This fishery sends every 

 year, from the coasts of France, Holland, and Britain, 

 numerous fleets to collect, from the depths of the stormy 

 ocean, an abundant and certain harvest, which the vast 

 shoals ofi'er to the courageous activity of these nations. 

 The greatest statesmen, the most intelligent political 

 economists, have looked on the herring fishery as the 

 most important of maritime expeditions. It has been 

 named the G-reat Fishery. It forms robust men, intrepid 

 mariners, and experienced navigators. The nations in- 

 dustriously occupied in this fishery know how to make it 

 the source of inexhaustible riches." 



We show in our chronological history of the herring 

 fishery the great exertions made by the British nation 

 at various periods to promote and encourage its progress ; 

 and we there explain some of the causes of the want of 

 success, doubtless occasioned by the want of informa- 

 tion on the natural history of the herring, and the conse- 

 quent erroneous legislation. We shall here, therefore, 

 only briefly give proofs of this. By Act 23 George II. 

 cap. 24, passed in the year 1760, bounties were offered 

 for the fitting out of busses to fish herrings, but they 



fles cotes do France, de HoUande, d'Aiigleterre (de la Grand Bretagne), des 

 flottes nombreuses pour aller chercher dans le sein d'une mer orageuse la 

 moisson abondaute et assuree que ses legions innombrables presentent a 

 la courageuse activite de ces peuples. Les grands politiques, les plus 

 habiles cconomistes, out vu dans la peche du hareng la plus importante 

 dcs expeditions maritiuies. lis I'ont surnommee la grande peche. Elle 

 forme des liommes robustes, des marins intrepides, des navigateurs experi- 

 mentes. L'iudustrie qui s'emparo des produits de cette peche salt en faire 

 I'object d'un coininoreo, source des richesses inepuisables." 



