182 PISH CULTXTEE. 



and 11th of William and Mary, declares the fisheries 

 of Newfoundland a beneficial trade to the kingdom, 

 in the employment of a great number of seamen and 

 ships, by the increase of her Majesty's revenue, and 

 the encouragement of trade and navigation. The 

 same parliament came to a resolution, ' That the 

 fisheries and trade of Newfoundland do very much 

 promote navigation, increase seamen, and are of great 

 profit to the nation.' 



"In the reign of Elizabeth, there were 260 ships 

 employed in the Newfoundland fisheries, and the 

 seamen nursed in these fisheries mainly assisted in 

 manning her fleets. Act 15th, George III. ' declares 

 the fisheries the best nurseries for able and ex- 

 perienced seamen, always ready to man the royal 

 navy when occasion may require ; and it is of the great- 

 est national importance to give all due encourage- 

 ment to said fisheries.' In fact, from the British 

 fisheries, Britain derived the principal means of de- 

 fending herself; for it had been remarked that neglect 

 and want of proper encouragement to our fisheries 

 would much affect our commercial marine, and con- 

 sequently our naval ascendancy. 



"The French saw these advantages to the naval 

 power of Great Britain, and therefore, by every in- 

 fluence and exertion, endeavoured to obtain equal 



