FISHERIES. 235

in 1593, made a voyage in quest of whales and morses (walrus) to Cape Breton, where they found the wreck of a Biscay ship, and 800 Whale fins. England had in 1615, at Newfoundland, 250 ships, amounting to 1500 tons ; and the French, Biscayans, and Portuguese, 400 ships.*

From this period, the fisheries carried on by Eng- land became of great national consideration. De Witt observes, “ that our navy became formidable by the discovery of the inexpressibly rich fishing bank of Newfoundland.” In 1626, the French possessed themselves of, and settled at, Placentia; and that nation always viewed the English in those parts with the greatest jealousy; but still the value of these fisheries to England was fully appreciated, as appears by the various acts of Parliament passed, as well as different regulations adopted, for their pro- tectionqL Ships of war were sent out to convoy the fishing vessels, and to protect them on the coast; and the ships engaged in the fisheries, as far back as 1676, carried about twenty guns, eighteen small boats, and from ninety to a hundred men.

By the treaty of Utrecht, the value and importance of our fisheries at Newfoundland and New England is particularly regarded. The French, however, con- tinued afterwards, and until they were deprived of all their possessions in North America, to annoy the English engaged in fishing; and in 1734:, heavy

* Lex Mercatoria. 1- 2d and 3d Edward VI. Acts passed during the reigns of Eliza- beth, and James I., cap. 1 and 2, 10 and 11 William and Mary.