The PREFACE. mil 



headlong in a Life of fo much Peril to themfelwSy and fo 

 defimStive fo the NiWigatim of the tradingWorld \ to re- 

 medy which Eilil there feems to be hut two Waysy either to 

 find Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turned 

 adrift at the Conclufion of a War^ and thereby prevent 

 their running into fuch Vndertakings^ or to guard fuffici-* ^ 

 ently the Coaft of Africa, the Weft-Indies, and other 

 Places whereto Pyrates refort. 



I cannot but take Notice in this Vlace^ that during this 

 long PeacCy I have not fo much as heard of a Dutch Py- 

 rate : ft is not that I take them to he honejler than their 

 Neighbours ^ but when we account for ity it willy perhapSy be 

 a Reproach to our f elves for our want oflndufiry : iToe Rea^ 

 fon I take to bey that after a WoTy when the Dutch Ships 

 are laid upy they have a Fifheryy where their Seamen find 

 immediate Bufinefsy and as com fortable Bread as they had 

 before. Had ours the fame Recourfe in their Neceffities^ 

 I m certain we fhould find the fame Effecl from it y for a 

 Fijhery is a Trade that cannot be overfiock^d y the Sea is 

 md^ enough for us ally we need not quarrel for Elbow-room: 

 Its Stores are infinitCy and will ever reward the Labourer. 

 Befidesy our own CoaFtyfor the moft Party fupply the Dutch, 

 ivho employ feveral hundred Sail conflantly in the Trade^ 

 and fo fell to us our own Fifh. I call it our owny for the 

 Sovereignty of the Britifh Seas, are to this Day acknowledge 

 ed us by the Dutch, and all the neighbouring Nation s^^ 

 whereforCy if there was a publick Spirit among usy it would 

 be wctt worth our while to ejlablifh a National Fifheryy which 

 would be the be ft Means in the World to prevent Pyracyy 

 employ a Number of the Poory and eafe the Nation of a 

 great Burthen y by lowering the Price of Provifion in general y 

 as rveE as of feveral other Commodities. 



I need not bring any Proofs of what I advance y viz. that 

 there are Multitudes of Seamen at this Day unemployed y it 

 is but too evident by their ftyaggli^g-, and begging all over the 

 Kingdom^ Nor is it fo much their Inclination to Idlenefy as 

 tfjeir cmi hard FatCy in being caft off after their Work is 

 dtne^ to ftarve or {led. I have not known a Man of 

 * War 



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