§. 3. If the Fishery be Encouraged, and Established, it will prove the Foundation of an ample, and lasting Revenue to the Crown, and of Wealth and Prosperity to the Nation.

Nay, if it should turn to Loss, instead of Profit, it would still abun∣dantly answer the Expence, in the Consequences; being an un∣dertaking, not only of Common Benefit, but (as the Case stands) of Absolute Necessity, to the Safety, and well-being both of King and People;

It is but reason, that Publique works should receive Publike Encouragement; and that where both Prince and People are to partake of the Benefit; they should likewise joyn in the furtherance of the thing. Of such a Quality is this work. No sickly Project upon a Ramble we know not whither, to hunt Page  6 for we know not what; but a sober and simple Plot upon a Treasure that lyes at our very Feet: a Treasure, of more Value to Us then both the Indies, and yet we will not so much as stoop to take it up.

The Encouragement here intended, is the raising of a Sum of money for a Fond, as a necessary Preparatory toward the perfecting of the work: which may be done either by Lone, Contribution, or Tax.

Hitchcock computes upon 80000. l. to be furnished by 40. persons out of every County, at 50. l. a man, reckoning South-Wales for one County, & North-Wales for another, (which is no great matter.) And many other con∣trivances there are; but this poynt may be cut short: for, upon good secu∣rity there will be no difficulty of Procuring Mony.

Contribution would be an easy way; & certainly do a great deal in the bu∣siness; if the People might but be secured from the fate of their Last Benevo∣lence in this kinde, which never came to any thing, and there is a good part of it remaining in the Collectors hands to this very day, unaccounted for. Many wayes might be found out for their satisfaction, but none perhaps more a∣greeable then Depositing of the stock in the Chamber of London.

A Generall Tax would do the Deed at a blow; Nay a Particular Impositi∣on, to Introduce it by degrees; (as in case of the Algier Duty for the Redem∣tion of slaves; the Cole-Tax, for the Rebuilding of Churches) would sufficient∣ly answer my purpose.

Monyes being raysed and deposited toward a Stock, we come now to con∣sider where, and how to Employ them.

The first thing to be done may be the Resolving upon so many staples; and then to fall to work upon Creeks, Wharfs, Docks, Store-houses, Tan-houses, Work-houses, Granaryes, Brew-houses, and other Conveniences for the service: And at the same time, the Poor may be set to work upon Spinning, making of Nets, and Ropes, and the Like; that the Fishing Tew, and the other Pro∣visions, may go on hand in hand together.

By this Method, the designe may be very fairly advanced with a matter of Forty or Fifty Thousand pounds, leaving the Charge of the Vessells to come after, when there shall be Accommodations fit to Entertain and receive them, The reasons of my proposing it thus by halves, are these; 1st. There is no need of buying Vessells till we know how to dispose of them, (though an eye may be had in the Interim, to the saving, and setting apart for this use, of such Ships as may possibly fall in by the By,) 2ly. The Expence will be lighter, and so more easily Compassed. And Lastly, (which is the main point of all) It will be a great Encouragement to a Further supply toward the Charge of the Vessells themselves (which is next to be Consider∣ed) when the people shall see that we are in Earnest, and half through the work already.

The Charge of a Herring-Busse, of 80. Tun, new from the Stocks, and furnished at all points for the Fishery; together with Victualls, & Wages Page  7 for one whole Year; may be rated at 900l. which being divided into 2 parts. I make accompt that the Vessell her self with her Cock-Boat, Mastes, Sayle, Yards, Cables, Anchors, and other Trim to fit her for the Sea, will make about one Moiety: So that 200 New Busses, rigg'd and fitted as aforesaid, will come to about 90000l. (or at second hand perhaps, 30000l. Cheaper;) which Expense, with ordinary successe, will be Cleared the first year; and money toward a stock over and above. It were better if there were more, but rather then fail, I would content my self for a Beginning, even with a fourth part of these: But be they more, or sewer, I would have all the Vessells advanced upon the Kings Accompt; and have the Remaining Charge of Netts, Rope, Line, Cask, Salt, Victualls (and in short, of all Fish∣ing-Tew, aud Provisions) to be born upon Adventure, according to common Practise in those cases, for the Ease of his Majesty and the Encouragement of the People. This will be better understood by a word or two concerning the Methodes in the menage of the Fishery.

The Profit of a Herring-Busse is divided into so many shares, whereof there go about 2 Thirds to the Adventures, and the rest to the Vessell. The Netts, and Fishing-Geare; the Master, and his Mate, with the Saylers, Fishermen, and the vessell it selfe, are in upon the Adventure of No Purchase, no Pay. The Ships Provisions of victuall, Salt and Cask, are furnished up∣on Adventure too, with the advantage it may be, of 12 per Cent for their Comodities in peace, and twice as much in times of war, above the price of the Market, but with this difference, that this last adventure is to be payd off upon the Return, before the dividend: without pretending to any other In∣tereit in the profit of the voyage. So that his Majesty shall not need to be one penny more out of Purse, then for the Vessell; as aforesayd: save only the Shipps part toward the wages of 6 or 7 Land-men; which is so inconsidera∣ble, that after two Voyages, they themselves will deal no longer for wages, but serve upon Adventure.

This is the very Track of the Affayr, and by this method is Retrenched almost the one half of the Present Charge of the Fishery; the work made ea∣sy, and Profitable, in common, both to King, and People.

The Proportion of Saylers, and Fishers, for 200 Busses will be 1800, or 2000 men, which will be supply'd from our Coasts without any difficulty: and these 200 Busses will train up yearly, at least 1200 Landmen for Sea •ervice.

And then for Money, certainly it will never be wanting; when so small a matter may advance so great a work.

What were it for the Clergy to make his Majesty, a Present of 50. Busses in kinde; and delivered without any further Trouble, into his own Ports? which undoubtedly they would never stick at.

A Matter of 50 or 100. of those Noble Persons, upon Whom his Majesty hath showred down his Graces, and Bountyes; what were it for them to furnish as Page  8 many more (which in pure Honour, and Gratitude, they would never Re∣fuse?

The City of London would undoubtedly come in for their Quota too; not only in Acknowledgment of the Honours, and Priviledges they have received from the Crown, but in pursuance of their wonted munificence in favour of all Publique undertakings.

So that there remains but 50 Busses more to be furnished from the whole Nation beside, to make up the Number; which comes to little more, then a Vessell a Country, one County with another.

This way would carry the businesse through, and leave no Objection be∣hinde, of any Possibility of ill-husbanding, or misapplying the Monyes; when, the Respective Contributers themselves shall have the manage, and ordering of their own Proportions.

This may suffice for an Encouragement to the Fishery; and there wants lit∣tle now toward the Establishment of it, but the setling, and setting apart, by Act of Parliament, of a certain Revenue for the Repairing of Creeks, Wharfs, Houses, and Vessells, belonging thereunto; to be vested in the King, and his Heirs for ever; to the ends and purposes aforesaid.

In persuance of my Assertion, I am now to make good, that the Fishery being duly Encouraged, and Established, will prove the Foundation of an Ample, and Lasting Revenue to the Crown, and of Wealth, and Prosperity to the Nation.

Upon the Kings providing Busses, and the settling of a matter of 20000l. a year for Reparations, and Supplies, in manner as is heretofore ex∣prest; there will accrue to his Majesty a Third part of the Profits of the Fi∣shery, in the Right of the Vessells; which, upon a very Reasonable and hopefull Improvement, will amount to a Million and a half, yearly; and remain to the Cr•wn for ever. This is it which I call the Foundation of an Ample, and Lasting Revenue; and which I look upon as a Treasury, that will much more then Answer all His Majesties Navall Expenses whatsoever. To say nothing of what will be advanced in his Customes, by Commedities. Imported for our Fish, in Return.

And I may very well reckon upon it also, as a Foundation of Wealth, and Prosperity to the Nation; for I cannot Cast my Eye upon any sort or Condi∣tion of People, that is not the better for it, and the Community most of all.

1st. It will bring all other Commodities in upon the Truck; which we now pay ready mony for; to an Inestimable value.

2ly. It will ease this Kingdom at least 300000l. a year, in the very Tax to the Poor, by Employing all sorts of People, and turning the Great Burthen of this Land, into an equall Benefit: which will be in some mea∣sure a repeopling of us too, by adding so many lost hands to the service of the Publique.

3ly. A full Fishery, in this one year; would have saved the City of Page  9 London, and the Dependencyes upon the River of Thames, near half a Million perchance, in the price of Cole; for there would never have wanted •eamen, to carry on the War, and the Colliery together.

It would be endlesse to run through all the Particulars; How it begets Commerce; Fills His Majesties Coffers; Peoples his Dominions; and conse∣quently raises the price of Land; Enriches the Merchant, both by Expertati∣on, and Importation; and the Trades-man, by setting all hands to work: for it is remarkable, that 10000l. adventure in the Fishery, Employs more people, then 50000l. in any other Trade whatsoever, Clothing Excepted. It Excites Industry, and Clears us of Loyterers, and Beggars. Insomuch, that Ordina∣ry Servants make themselves fortunes, by working of Netts, at spare hours, and adventuring them in the Fishery.

Let it not be Imagin'd that I speak all this without book, for I have my Calculation of the profit of it, and other advantages, from Sir Walter Rawleigh, Sr. John Burrowes, and many other learned, and Experienced Authors, who computed the yearly value, at above ten millions, when the Dutch had not half the number of Busses which now they have.

Bur be the profit more or lesse, rather then differ upon that point, we'l cast all our Millions into the Sea again, and yet set up the Fishery, though we should trade to Losse: for it seems to me, of so absolute a Necessity to this Na∣tion, that (humanely speaking) we cannot well, or long subsist without it.

If we let our Navigation fall, we are Lost; and how to support, and sup∣ply it, without the Fishery, I do not Comprehend; The Man of War, and Merchant-man, consume▪ Seamen, and I•reed. none. The Collier brings up, now and then an: Apprentice, but still spends more then he makes. The only (and the Common) Nursery of Seamen is the Fishery; where euery Busse brings up (it may be) 6. 8. or. 10. new men every Year; so that our Fishery is just as Necessary to our Navigation, as our Navigation. is to our safety, and well-being. And it is well enough observed, that All Princes and States, are stronger or Weaker, at Sea, according to the Measures of their Fishery.

Nor is it only for the Number of Seamen that we are indebted to the Fish∣ery, but for the value of them also, for there never were braver Officers in the world, then those that have been Trayn'd up in That School, as any man that de∣sires to be better informed, may easily satisfie himself.

Nay, if they were only to be Employ'd as Pilots, their services would more then Countervail the Charge: for their busynesse lyes where our Dan∣genlyes: They know all the Rocks and shelves; and there's no Coasting with∣out them. How many brave shipps have we stranded, for want of a pittyfull Fisherman abord, to forewarn us of the Danger? yes, and I have heard it. Confidently sayd, that even since this last War with the Dutch, a great part of His Majestyes Fleet Royall had like to have perished upon the same score. Neither can we pretend so much as to Pilot a great shipp out of the River, without a Fisherman.

Page  10 As we can do nothing at Sea without the Fishery, so I am afraid we shall make as ill shift at Land, For we have a bold Coast, and for want of people upon it, to defend it, we ly open to a thousand Mischiefs. The Fishery will relieve us in This too; by planting a Trade there, which will draw on Commerce, and Consequently repeople and strengthen us. If it be asked me, how we have done for Seamen all this while? I answer, that we have done for Seamen, as some people do for mony; that have but a Thousand Pound in the world, and play away five Hundred of it in a Night: we spend upon the Main stock, and it will never hold out. It has been our Fishery (even poor as it is) that has supported us all this while, and when That dyes, a man may foretell without the help of an Oracle, that the Glory of England will not long out-live it.

When I speak of the Fishery, I desire to be understood of the Fishery in General, and of God, and Ling, as well as Herring; which is Esteemed to be well nigh as Gainful too as the other. There is not any subject perhaps that has been more Labour'd, and to lesse purpose then this, and the Reason pos∣sibly may be, that we have only taken a prospect of the Pecuniary advanta∣ges of it, which we may live without, and given no heed at all to that Con∣sideration of State, which makes it of Absolute Necessity to our Preservation.

To Contract all in a word; If any man shall say, that I have over-rated the Fishery, and the Influence it would have upon the prosperity of this King∣dom, let them reply upon Sir Walter Rawleigh, Sir John Burrowes, and o∣ther persons of Note, who have study'd the poynt and made a particular de∣duction of the Value of it.

Or If I have not sufficiently proved, that it lyes fayrer for Us, then for the Dutch; or not fully answered all Materiall Objections to the Contrary, I shall be Glad to be better Instructed.

Or (the Profit apart) If we can ever be either Happy, or safe, without Navigation: Or Maintain that Navigation without a Fishery; and manage it without Pilots. If this may be done, I say, All's well: But if not; I may then conclude that the Fishery is of an Absolute, and Undispensable Necessity, to the well-being, both of King, and People.