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fishing trade； and consequently adding to their shipping；
commerce； and wealth。 〃Surely；〃 he says； 〃the stream is
necessary to be turned to the good of this kingdom； to whose
sea…coasts alone God has sent us these great blessings and
immense riches for us to take； and that every nation should carry
away out of this kingdom yearly great masses of money for fish
taken in our seas； and sold again by them to us； must needs be a
great dishonour to our nation； and hindrance to this realm。〃
The Hollanders then had about 50；000 people employed in fishing
along the English coast； and their industry and enterprise gave
employment to about 150；000 more； 〃by sea and land； to make
provision； to dress and transport the fish they take； and return
commodities； whereby they are enabled yearly to build 1000 ships
and vessels。〃 The prosperity of Amsterdam was then so great that
it was said that Amsterdam was 〃founded on herring…bones。〃
Tobias Gentleman published in 1614 his treatise on 'England's Way
to win Wealth； and to employ Ships and Marines；'＇16＇ in which he
urged the English people to vie with the Dutch in fishing the
seas； and thereby to give abundant employment； as well as
abundant food； to the poorer people of the country。
〃Look；〃 he said； 〃on these fellows； that we call the plump
Hollanders； behold their diligence in fishing； and our own
careless negligence！〃 The Dutch not only fished along the coasts
near Yarmouth； but their fishing vessels went north as far as the
coasts of Shetland。 What most roused Mr。 Gentleman's indignation
was； that the Dutchmen caught the fish and sold them to the
Yarmouth herring…mongers 〃for ready gold； so that it amounteth to
a great sum of money； which money doth never come again into
England。〃 〃We are daily scorned；〃 he says； 〃by these Hollanders；
for being so negligent of our Profit； and careless of our
Fishing； and they do daily flout us that be the poor Fishermen of
England； to our Faces at Sea； calling to us； and saying； 'Ya
English； ya sall or oud scoue dragien；' which； in English； is
this； 'You English； we will make you glad to wear our old
Shoes！'〃
Another pamphlet； to a similar effect； 'The Royal Fishing
revived；'＇17＇ was published fifty years later； in which it was
set forward that the Dutch 〃have not only gained to themselves
almost the sole fishing in his Majesty's Seas； but principally
upon this Account have very near beat us out of all our other
most profitable Trades in all Parts of the World。〃 It was even
proposed to compel 〃all Sorts of begging Persons and all other
poor People； all People condemned for less Crimes than Blood；〃 as
well as 〃all Persons in Prison for Debt；〃 to take part in this
fishing trade！ But this was not the true way to force the
traffic。 The herring fishery at Yarmouth and along the coast
began to make gradual progress with the growth of wealth and
enterprise throughout the country； though it was not until
1787less than a hundred years agothat the Yarmouth men began
the deep…sea herring fishery。
Before then； the fishing was all carried on along shore in little
cobles； almost within sight of land。 The native fishery also
extended northward； along the east coast of Scotland and the
Orkney and Shetland Isles； until now the herring fishery of
Scotland forms one of the greatest industries in the United
Kingdom； and gives employment； directly or indirectly； to close
upon half a million of people； or to one…seventh of the whole
population of Scotland。
Taking these facts into consideration； therefore； there is no
reason to despair of seeing； before many years have elapsed； a
large development of the fishing industry of Ireland。 We may yet
see Galway the Yarmouth； Achill the Grimsby； and Killybegs the
Wick of the West。 Modern society in Ireland； as everywhere else；
can only be transformed through the agency of labour； industry；
and commerceinspired by the spirit of work； and maintained by
the accumulations of capital。 The first end of all labour is
security；security to person； possession； and property； so that
all may enjoy in peace the fruits of their industry。 For no
liberty； no freedom； can really exist which does not include the
first liberty of allthe right of public and private safety。
To show what energy and industry can do in Ireland； it is only
necessary to point to Belfast； one of the most prosperous and
enterprising towns in the British Islands。 The land is the same；
the climate is the same； and the laws are the same； as those
which prevail in other parts of Ireland。 Belfast is the great
centre of Irish manufactures and commerce； and what she has been
able to do might be done elsewhere； with the same amount of
energy and enterprise。 But it is not land； or climate； or
altered laws that are wanted。 It is men to lead and direct； and
men to follow with anxious and persevering industry。 It is
always the Man society wants。
The influence of Belfast extends far out into the country。 As
you approach it from Sligo； you begin to see that you are nearing
a place where industry has accumulated capital； and where it has
been invested in cultivating and beautifying the land。 After you
pass Enniskillen； the fields become more highly cultivated。 The
drill…rows are more regular； the hedges are clipped； the weeds no
longer hide the crops； as they sometimes do in the far west。 The
country is also adorned with copses； woods； and avenues。 A new
crop begins to appear in the fieldsa crop almost peculiar to
the neighbourhood of Belfast。 It is a plant with a very slender
erect green stem； which； when full grown； branches at the top
into a loose corymb of blue flowers。 This is the flax plant； the
cultivation and preparation of which gives employment to a great
number of persons； and is to a large extent the foundation of the
prosperity of Belfast。
The first appearance of the linen industry of Ireland； as we
approach Belfast from the west； is observed at Portadown。 Its
position on the Bann； with its water power； has enabled this
town； as well as the other places on the river； to secure and
maintain their due share in the linen manufacture。 Factories
with their long chimneys begin to appear。 The fields are richly
cultivated； and a general air of well…being pervades the
district。 Lurgan is reached； so celebrated for its diapers； and
the fields there about are used as bleaching…greens。 Then comes
Lisburn； a populous and thriving town； the inhabitants of which
are mostly engaged in their staple trade； the manufacture of
damasks。 This was really the first centre of the linen trade。
Though Lord Strafford； during his government of Ireland；
encouraged the flax industry； by sending to Holland for
flax…seed； and inviting Flemish and French artisans to settle in
Ireland； it was not until the Huguenots； who had been banished
from France by the persecutions of Louis XIV。； settled in Ireland
in such large numbers