erics. dwellings; and the whole became by degrees metamor- Dutch Fishphosed into the opulent city of Amsterdam. The disadvantages the Dutch laboured under were great; but industry overcomes every obstacle, and converts the most barren spots into seats of plenty. Their own country was so poor in natural productions, that for almost every article requisite to conduct these fisheries they had recourse to foreign nations. Their timber for ship-building, the iron, hemp, cordage, barrels, and even their bread, is brought from other countries; while Scotland supplies most of them, and England all. They had, besides, a considerable navigation to make to come at the fisheries, and at a stormy season of the year, while we have the fish at our own doors. Notwithstanding these advantages in our favour, the Dutch have till lately been the only persons who profited by herring-fishery, as appears from different accounts. According to Sir Walter Raleigh, in the year 1603, the Dutch sold to different nations as many herrings as aamounted to L.1,759,000. In the year 1615 they employed in this fishery 2000 busses and 37,000 fishermen. In 1618 they sent no less than 3000 busses, with 50,000 men, to the herring-fisheries. Besides this, 9000 other vessels were employed to transport and sell the fish: which last occupations employed 150,000 men by sea and land, in addition to those immediately engaged in the fisheries. Thus did our industrious neighbours increase the number of their vessels and seamen, supply half the world with food, and raise themselves to opulence, at our expence. It is to the Shetland islands that the Dutch have chiefly resorted; and a particular account of the manner in which they conduct their fisheries there is given by Sir William Manson. From the Texel to Bra Sound in Shetland is upwards of 230 leagues. To the latter place, about the 20th of eries. Dutch Fish-June, at least 2000 fishing vessels in his time resorted. On the 24th they put to sea, being prohibited till that day under a severe penalty, as the herrings are before that not thought fit for salting. Each of these vessels, on that day, directs its course to find out the shoal of herrings. When they have loaded their busses, they return to Holland, and leave their cargo, which is immediately repacked and sent to the Baltic and other parts of the world. As soon as the busses furnished themselves with victuals, casks, and salt, they revisited the shoal they had left, and filled again as quickly as possible, returned to Holland and unloaded. This they generally did three times in the season; and during that period, on the most moderate computation, each buss took 100 casts of herring, which being valued at L.10 the last, amounted to L.1000 for each vessel. The fishing fleet was often attended by certain vessels, called yaugers, that carried, salt, casks, and victuals, to barter with the busses for their herrings, which they carried directly to the Baltic. British fishery. The Dutch fishery has been brought to a close in con sequence of the conquest of Holland by the French, and of that country being thereby involved in the war between. Britain and France. Great efforts have also been made to direct the industry of our countrymen into this channel, and not without success. We have already remarked, that in the Shetland isles every proprietor of lands is now engaged in the fishing trade. English companies send vessels to the Pentland Frith and the Orkney isles, and their vessels convey powdered cod regularly to the London market. On all the coasts, both on the east and the west, the shoals of herrings are zealously pursued, every season, by great numbers of vessels or busses, from all the towns, and even villages, in the vicinity of thre Frith of Clyde |