200 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



able ; indeed, all lovers of their country ought to have 

 them at their tables in the month of July, if possible. He 

 recommends that strange ships should be kept off the 

 coasts, as he says "their large ships prevent our smaller 

 ONES AND boats, AND DESTROY OUR NETS;" that foreign salt 

 should be allowed free of duty for the fisheries ; and that 

 a bounty should be paid on all cured fish ; and the build- 

 ing of stores and warehouses on the coasts where the 

 herrings are obtaineds He urges the encouraging the 

 Highlanders to fish, and says of them, " As to this 

 people's genius for manufactures, observe their tartan and 

 plaid, the whole of which, from first to last, is performed 

 by one family ; and for their mechanical genius, I appeal 

 to the curious arms they make." He advises the forma- 

 mation of a joint-stock company to advance money to pur- 

 chase lands and build towns in the north, and to build and 

 furnish boats, and also to procure nets for the people. He 

 says, the people on the east coast take shares in boats, and 

 " the shares are, to a man half a share, to the net half a 

 share, and to the boat one whole share ; so that if you fit out 

 the boat with eight nets, which may cost in all about L.28 

 or L.30, you will have the five-ninths of the produce of 

 eight men's labour for the season, and the other four- 

 ninths you may purchase at a very low price." He con- 

 cludes by saying, " It only remains, therefore, that this 

 glorious design be pursued with constancy, spirit, and 

 prudence." 



The author of " Considerations upon the White Her- 

 ring, and Cod Fisheries," endeavours to prove that the 

 plan of a joint-stock company, suj)ported by premiums, 

 bounties, and guaranteed interest from the nation, is free 

 from all objections, and that such a measure is necessary 

 to give employment anJ profit to the people who were 



