3020. FISHERIES, Relief of.—[continued].
The historical view we
have taken of these fisheries, proves they are
so poor in themselves, as to come to nothing
with distant nations, who do not support
them from their own treasury. We have
seen that the advantages of our position place
our fisheries on a ground somewhat higher,
such as to relieve our treasury from giving
them support; but not to permit it to draw
support from them, nor to dispense the government
from the obligation of effectuating
free markets for them; that, from the great
proportion of our salted fish, for our common
oil, and a part of our spermaceti oil, markets
may perhaps be preserved, by friendly arrangements
towards those nations whose arrangements
are friendly to us, and the residue
be compensated by giving to the seamen,
thrown out of business, the certainty of employment
in another branch, of which we have
the sole disposal (the carrying trade).—
Report on the Fisheries. Washington ed. vii, 538.
(1791)
