CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 281 



force won't do, and feel that others are reaping the 

 harvest they ought to gather, then, perhaps, kindness, 

 and, if possible, assistance to enable some of them to 

 get the necessary tackle to go to sea, and provide them- 

 selves with sufficient provisions for a week or ten days, 

 you, my dear sir, may depend on it, that a very short 

 period would elapse until you would see them once more 

 comfortable and happy. If Government would only 

 consider the subject, and extend a helping hand in time, 

 the thing could be easily done, and a large class of men 

 saved from the workhouse and jail. For after all that 

 has been said of them and against them, with scarcely 

 one redeeming trait, yet they are good fishermen, and 

 very many among them would jump at any employ that 

 would put bread in their children's mouths. 



" ' If I can be of any assistance or service in carrying 

 out such a laudable work, I shall be most happy to 

 render all in my power to save them from impending- 

 ruin ; for there is not at this moment in the village one 

 dozen spillets, or one dozen boats, able to take sufficient 

 provisions to sea for a fortnight, and all this when the 

 cod and round fish are just coming in. 



"' I was induced to write you thus fully on the subject 

 from our conversation to-day. You know the people, 

 and so do I ; and I really hope the Commissioners, in 

 recommending the Executive to send cannon balls, will 

 also not forget to send the means of earning bread. 

 Should this letter have any weight, then I have no 

 apology to make for my suggestions ; but I hope that 

 you will not feel I have inflicted a long and useless 

 letter on you. And am, my dear Sir, yours very truly, 

 (Signed) Thomas Wade.' 



" ' To J. R. Barry, Esq.' 



