ABUNDANCE OF FISH ON NEW ENGLAND COAST. 159 



'' This being knowiie, tliey shall passe for a commodity to the inhab- 

 itants ; for the Salvages will meete 500, or 1,000, at a place where Lob- 

 sters come in with the t.yde, to eate, & save dried for Store, abiding In 

 that place, feasting & sporting a moneth or 6. weekes together." 



" There are greate store of oysters in the entrance of all Eivers; they 

 are not ronnd as those of England, bat excellent fat, and all good. I 

 have scene an Oyster bank a mile at length." 



'' Mnstles there are infinite store, I have often gon to Wassagascus ; 

 where were excellent Mustles to eate (for variety) the fish is so fat & 

 large.'' 



" Chimes is a shellfish, which I have scene sold in Westminster for 12. 

 pe. the skore. These our swine feede upon 5 & of them there is no 

 want, every shore is full, it makes the swine proove exceedingly, 

 they will not fiiile at low water te be with them. The Salvages are 

 much taken with the delight of this fishe ; & are not cloyed (notwith- 

 standing the plenty) for onr swine we find it a good commodity." 



" Easer fishes there are. Freeles there are, Cockles, and Scallopes, 

 & divers other sorts of shellfishe, very good foode." 



" There are, in the rivers and ponds, very excellent Tronts, Carpes, 

 Breames, Pikes, Eoches, Perches, Tenches, Eeles, and other fishes such 

 as England doth aftbrd, & as good, for variety ; yea many of them 

 much better; & the natives of the inland parts doe buy hookes of 

 us to catch them with, & I have knowne the time, that a Trout's hooke 

 hath yielded a beaver skinne, which hath bin a good commodity to 

 those that have bartered tbem awav." 



'^ Neiv JEuglancVs Plantation^ or a short & true description of the Com- 

 modities & Discommodities of that Countrey. Written by a reverend 

 Diuine [Mr. Higgesotv] now there resident. London. Printed hy T. C. 

 & R. C. for Michael SparlxC, diceUing at the signs of the Blue Bible in 

 Greene Arbor in the little Old Bailey, 1G30." 



[Force's Historical Tracts. Vol. I, Tract XII : also, collections of Massachusetts His- 

 torical Society for the year 1792. Vol. 1. Boston : 1606.] 



''ForJ^easts there are some Beares, & they say some Lyons also; 

 for they have been seen at Cape Anne. Also here are severall sorts- of 

 Deere, some whereof bring three or foure young ones at once, which is 

 not ordinarie in England. Also Wolues, Foxes, Beauers, Otters, Mar- 

 tins, great wild Cats, and a great Beast called a Molke as bigge as an 

 Oxe. I have seen the skins of all these Beasts since I came to this 

 Plantation excepting Lyons. Also here are great Store of Squerrels, 

 some greater, & some smaller & lesser : there are some of the lesser 

 sort, they tell me, that by a certain Skin will Aj from Tree to Tree 

 though they stand far distant." (P. 8.) 



" New England hath Water enough both salt & fresh, the greatest Sea 

 in the World, the Atlanticfce Sea runs all along the Coast thereof. There 

 are aboundance of Islands along the Shore, some full of Wood & Mast 

 to feed Swine ; & others cleere of Wood, & fruitful to beare Corne. 

 Also we haue store of excellent harbours for Ships, as at Cai)e Aniie, 

 & at Masathidets Bay, & at Salem, & at many other places : & they are 

 the better because for Strangers there is a verie difficult & dangerous 

 passage into them, but unto such as are well acquainted with them, they 

 are easie & safe enough. The aboundance of Sea-Fish are almost 



