202 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



Dutch, SO that our seas produced to foreigners, one year 

 with another, between six and seven millions sterling." 



This publication evinces great talent and a masterly 

 command of language and argument ; the following, for 

 instance, is a very just remark : — 



" It is impossible to devise a more natural or more effi- 

 cient defence for an island than to have the coasts covered 

 and guarded by towns well inhabited, and that, too, by 

 persons of considerable property, and, consequently, 

 equally capable and inclined to exert their utmost force 

 for their own preservation against foreign invaders. We 

 may add to these, other apparent and sensible advantages, 

 such as the breeding of a numerous race of hardy, active, 

 and able seamen and fishermen in all these ports, who, 

 by their labour in time of peace, will be able to maintain 

 and support themselves and their families, and be always 

 at hand to man the Eoyal Navy in time of war, without 

 difficulty or trouble. We conclude by saying, that this 

 noble undertaking, so long wished for, and at this junc- 

 ture so much wanted, may be at length gloriously accom- 

 plished, for the universal advantage of the British people 

 ought to be the sincere endeavour and the indefatigable 

 study, as well as the zealous and ardent prayer, of every 

 good citizen, who has a due concern for the interest, 

 safety, and welfare of his native country." 



Out of the great number of able pamphlets and books 

 written in favour of promoting or beginning the herring- 

 fishery, the last we shall notice is " A Letter to a member 

 of Parliament, 1750." The motto on the title page is an 

 appropriate one, from '• Thomson's Seasons," namely, — 



" With adventurous oar 

 How to dash wide the billow ; nor look on, 

 Shamefully passive, while Batavia's fleet 



