Travels In The United States Of America; Commencing In The Year 1793, And Ending In 1797. With The Author's Journals Of His Two Voyages Across The Atlantic By William Priest
- Page 120 of 128 - First - Home
Apropos Of Philosophers - An American Writer Has
Been Endeavouring To Investigate The Age Of The World, From The _Falls Of
Niagara!_ According To _His_ Calculation (Which, By The By, Is Not A
Little Curious) It Is _36960_ Years Since The First Rain Fell Upon The
Face Of The Earth!
Yours, &c.
_Boston, December 19th, 1796._
DEAR SIR,
I before hinted to you, that the Americans pay very little attention to
their fisheries.
Exclusive of the shad fishery, which is only two months in the year, there
is not _one_ individual, either in the city of Philadelphia, or it's
vicinity, who procures a livelihood by catching fish in the Delaware,
though that river abounds with sturgeon, perch, cat-fish, eels, and a vast
variety of others, which would meet with a sure sale in the Philadelphia
markets: but this is a trifle to their neglect of the greatest fishery in
the universe; for such certainly is that on the banks of Newfoundland.
The Americans now being at peace with most of the piratical states
of Barbary, will find an excellent market for their fish in the
Mediterranean. This circumstance may induce congress to pay some attention
to the hints thrown out by Dr. Belknap, in his Account of the American
Newfoundland Fishery, which I transcribe for you perusal: -
"The cod-fishery is either carried on by boats or schooners. The boats in
the winter season go out in the morning, and return at night. In the
spring they do not return till they are filled.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 120 of 128
Words from 32682 to 32935
of 35016
