ClassIV. common cod fish. 175 



not know : but it appears, that in the reign of her 

 fucceffor, our countrymen had not fewer than a 

 hundred and fifty fhips employed in the Iceland 

 fifliery. I fuppofe this indulgence might arife 

 from the marriage of James with a Princefs of 

 Denmark. 



But the Spanijh^ the French^ and the Bretons^ had 

 much the advantage of us in all filheries at the 

 beginning, as appears by the (late of that in the 

 feas of Newfoundland in the year 1578*, when 

 the number of fhips belonging to each nation flood 

 thus : 



Spaniards^ loo, belides 20 or 30 that came from 

 Bifcaie^ to take whale for train, being about 

 five or fix thoufand tons. 



Portuguefe^ 50, or three thoufand tons. 



French and Bretons^ 150, or feven thoufand tons. 



Englijhj from 30 to 50. 

 But Mr. Anderfon^ in his Didtionary of Com- 

 merce, I. 363, fays, that the French began to fifh 

 there fo early as i^'^6\ and we think we have 

 fomewhere read, that their firfl pretence for fifh- 

 jng for cod in thofe feas, was only to fupply an 

 Englijh convent with that article. 



The encreafe of fhipping that refort to thofe 

 fertile banks, are now unfpeakable : our own coun- 

 try flill enjoys the greatefl fbare, which ought to 

 be efl^emed our chiefePc treafure, as it brings 

 wealth to individuals, and ftrenorth to the flate. 



* Hackluyt's Coll, Voy, III. 132. 



All 



