196 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



eat of them. I wish we had as good a liking to them in 

 these kingdoms." He also speaks from experience when 

 he says, "I am very strongly persuaded the keeping the 

 Dutch and French in proper limits at sea would be a 

 great point towards the establisliing our own fishery, and 

 without which, I very much fear, we shall never be able 

 to make any great progress, as they will be everlastingly 

 teazing and plaguing our fishermen. I must think that 

 no one can dispute our right, so far as our Admiralty 

 jurisdiction extends." He points out some of the causes 

 of the superiority of the Dutch herrings, and otherwise 

 seems to have understood the subject. Another is — 

 " Scheme for Promoting the British Fisheries," by George 

 Walker, who recommends the formation of a company 

 called the Free British Fishers' Society, without exclud- 

 ing private companies or parties from fishing on equal 

 terms. We are here informed that at that period (1750) 

 " there were 1100 British sailors in the Dutch fisheries ; 

 and to avoid giving our allies, the Dutch, umbrage, appli- 

 cation should be made to his Majesty to call home all 

 British sailors in general" (page 20). He also wisely re- 

 marks, " As all men are, by nature, alike, so we would all 

 beg, steal, and be idle, if our nature were not improved 

 by education ;" and he says, " it would be wise to employ 

 the parochial pauper boys as apprentices in such a fishery, 

 on certain conditions," and points out the propriety of 

 modifying the regulations as to salt, the high duties on 

 which caused mucli annoyance. The next pamphlet we 

 shall notice is entitled, " To the Committee upon the 

 British Fishery, King's Arms Tavern. By M. N." This 

 author says, " The promotion of the herring and cod 

 fishery upon our coasts will increase our naval force, 

 civilise the Highlands, employ the poor over the whole 



