218 FISH CULTUEE. 



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 

 greatest national importance to give all due en- 

 couragement to said fisheries.' In fact, from the 

 British fisheries, Britain derived the principal means 

 of defending herself; for it had been remarked that 

 neglect and want of proper encouragement to our 

 fisheries would much affect our commercial marine, 

 and consequently 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 

 position and benefit. The French, therefore, spared 

 no encouragement to stimulate their fisheries, gave 

 bounties on the fish exported from Newfoundland, or 

 from France to the French colonies. Bounties were 

 also allowed on aU men and boys sailing annually 

 from France, and that were employed in the shore 

 and bank fisheries of Newfoundland. On the other 



