FISHERIES. 251

The best protection that can now be extended to these fisheries, is, not to lay even the smallest duty on any article 'that is either directly or indirectly required for them. As respects Newfoundland, in particular, there is not an individual living on the island, who is not either immediately or indirectly connected with the fisheries.

Every encouragement should be afforded, in order to supply our fisheries with provisions from our own colonies. Canada and Prince Edward Island could now supply them with bread-stuffs, cattle, and salted provisions. A reasonable bounty for some time on these articles might not be impolitic, as we give foreigners at present nearly the whole profit of sup- plying our fisheries with provisions; and money, or good bills of exchange, only are taken in payment for provisions purchased at Hamburg, and other foreign parts, for the fisheries. In our own colonies, the payments would be principally made in British manufactures.

The Labrador fishing, the seal fishery, a fishery to the banks, and the fitting out of vessels direct from England for the seal fishery, are objects of great con- sequence, and seriously worthy of national encou-

ragement.