General Introduction. 



5 



added that "no other school can compare with this in 

 preparing them so well, and in numbers so important, 

 for the service of the navy." These bounties are also 

 defended on the ground that the French pursue the cod 

 fishery at a great disadvantage of distance, and from 

 having no possessions in the neighbourhood except two 

 rocky islets. 



The fishery question is of urgent consequence to the 

 people generally. Our population is increasing rapidly ; 

 cities and towns are gradually covering fields which used 

 to be available for agriculture ; and although steam-farming 

 is increasing the efficiency of husbandry labour, it cannot 

 possibly augment the supply of home-grown food so 

 rapidly as the bread-eaters increase in number. Fish is 

 among the articles of diet which are too little familiarized 

 among us, and any information ought to be welcomed 

 which increases our knowledge of fishing grounds within 

 reach of England. 



That the supply of fish is most abundant, and indeed 

 inexhaustible, on all our coasts, has never been called 

 in question. " The coasts of Great Britain," says Sir 

 John Boroughs, "doe yield such a continued sea-harvest 

 of gain and benefit to all those that with diligence doe 

 labour in the same, that no time or season in the yeare 

 passeth away without some apparent meanes of profitable 

 employment, especially to such as apply themselves to 

 fishing ; which from the beginning of the yeare unto the 

 latter end, continueth upon some part or other of our 

 coastes, and these in such infinite shoales and multitudes 

 of fishes are offered to the takers, as may justly move 

 admiration, not only to strangers, but to those that daily 

 bee employed amongst them." That this harvest, ripe for 

 gathering at all seasons of the year, without the labour of 



