703 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 29] 
We also learn from Governor Butler and Captain Smith, that in 
the famine of 1614-15 most of the people lived for some two or 
three months mainly on the fishes that were caught under the guid- 
ance of Governor Moore, who made great exertions in this direction. 
Governor Butler, in describing the famine, thus alludes to this 
fishing : 
“The people being once againe for the most part all of them at 
the towne, [after they had been removed from Port Royal] the 
Governour takes exceedeinge care for their releife, and trimminge up 
all his botes, manns them with the best and ablest of his men, and 
so putts them to continuall fishinge for the rest ; in so much that 
ordinarily 150 and sometimes 200 great fishes are brought home in a 
daye: at last the hookes and lines groweing scarce, he causeth the 
smithes to‘'make hookes of old rustye swords ; and cutting a cable 
belonging to the pinnace called the Thomas, setts the people on 
worck to make lines, and oft times would he rise himselfe at mid- 
night, call up his fishermen and sett them out to sea: with which 
course and by which meanes for two or three monethes wer the peo- 
ple in some convenient fashion kept and maintayned.” 
We learn other details of this matter from Mr. Hughes and Capt. 
John Smith, who add that finally these crude hooks and lines gave 
out, and then there was much suffering and many deaths from 
disease and starvation. 
For a number of years after this, the wild hogs, sea-birds, and 
sea-turtles having been already mostly destroyed, the fishes furnished 
a large proportion of their food, and some of these early writers 
speak of the rapid decrease in their numbers. ‘This decrease in the 
fishes, due to overfishing, soon attracted the attention of the govern- 
ment. In March, 1627, the Assembly passed the following law : 
“ An act against the drawing of Pilchards and ffrye to make oyle.” 
‘“¢ Whereas it hath bene and still is a usuall Custome of the Inhab- 
itants of theise Islands to hale and draw pilchards in severall bayes 
and places where they doe frequent, more for the benefitt of the oyle 
than present use of fishing, to the generall losse of the same Inhab- 
itants, not only by reason of the destroying of very much frye but 
also to the greate losse and prejudice of the said Inhabitants by 
chasing away other greate fishe from the shoare, weh live upon the 
said frye. And further doth hereby cause the said Pilchards and 
other small fish to be so shie that there is greate scarciety of Bayte 
for necessary fishing, wch beeing considered by this worthye and 
grave assemblie. It is enacted by the power and authoritye of the 
