rious existence by Importation of wheat-corn, instead of converting more extensively its own fisheries into sources of domestic supply, and of commercial exchange for the corn and wine of other countries.

It would be one of the natural effects of our preserving Cod, Mackerel, Herrings, and other Fish for our own use, that exportations would be made to Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean; which would afford markets for them to almost any extent. It is obvious that we are much more fitted by our local and insular situation for the supply of those countries, than Holland and America, which at present enjoy the advantages of that lucrative trade and possessing food of our own to exchange for that of other countries, we should avoid the ruinous exportation of capital; and at the same time have the power of retaining our Fish for our own use, in the event of any alarming deficiency in our own harvests, or of caprice or combination preventing other States from accepting our Fish, in exchange for the Corn or other produce of foreign countries. Our disadvantage now is, that we cannot eat our Manufactures; nor, in the present state of the world, convert them into articles of subsistence. We are therefore, like Midas, liable to starve in the midst of wealth, and to give a fatal example of the danger of relying on strangers for daily and necessary food.

THE above is submitted to the Reader, with a view of suggesting the expediency of an early Meeting being called, to consider of the measures proper to be taken, for increasing the supply of Fish in the Metropolis, and in the

manufacturing parts of the island. The object would be, to benefit by the example of what has been lately done; when, at a trifling expence, a very considerable addition has been made to the supply of the Metropolis, and of our manufacturers; to open the supply of fresh Fish for the benefit of the Capital, and of such other places as are capable of it and to secure a large quantity of corned Cod and other preserved Fish, for the relief of our manu facturing districts.

Those who approve of such a Meeting, are requested to signify the same by a Note, directed to the Secretary of the Society for the Poor, at No. 190, Piccadilly; with a view to the fixing of the time and place of the Meeting, and the Measures to be proposed for consideration.

Fish Association.

THE FIRST

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

RESPECTING THE

MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED

FOR

Increasing the Supply and Use of Fish

IN THE

METROPOLIS, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD,

FISH ASSOCIATION.

Draft of an Outline of Report for the Consideration of the Committee.

An increasing population, which in the last twelve years has been augmented by nearly a million and a half of inhabitants, -the state of our very extensive manufactories requiring a considerable addition of food,-and the supply of our fleets and armies, of our West India Colonies, and of some other British settlements which do not entirely provide the means of their own subsistence,-call with an imperious voice both on the public and on individuals, to unite every effort to provide more abundant sources of subsistence for the inhabitants of the United Kingdom; and to shake off that annual dependence on the uncertain and ruinous importation of wheat corn, and other food, at an expense amounting, in the same period of twelve years, to no less a sum than forty-two millions of money, sent out of the kingdom in quest of the necessary articles of life.

Under these circumstances, it is a satisfaction to observe, that of all the countries upon earth, there is no one, the local and political advantages of which do more exempt it from the necessity of submitting to so dangerous and humiliating á dependence. The uncontrolled command of the sea, and the insular situation of Great Britain and Ireland, encircled with inexhaustible shoals of nourishing and gratifying food, afford, at all seasons, an abundant supply of Fish, and require only the easy and congenial occupation of reaping the marine harvest, which the bounty of Provi dence has supplied. In addition to this, the immense quantities of salt which the surrounding ocean and our own internal salt-mines afford for preserving Fish, at a price exclusive of duty, so low, as not to amount to sixpence a bushel, offer the means of preserving cod, haddock, mackarel, herrings, and other Fish to an indefinite extent, for our own use, and for exportation to Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean, in exchange for the corn, wine, and other imports of those countries. In addition to this, it is to be noticed, that the present state of the European world is such, as to leave us the full enjoyment of our Fisheries, without the jealousy, competition, or interference, of any of the neighbouring states.

Impressed with these considerations, the committee announces to the public, as the leading object of the Fish Association, the obtaining of a more unrestricted supply of fresh and corned Fish,-for the relief of our manufacturers,→ for the better sustenance of our cottagers, by a considerable addition of savoury and salutary food,-for the supply of our West India Colonies,-and for exportation to foreign countries, in exchange for wheat, coffee, wine, oil, and other articles of life; so as to diffuse throughout the country that PLENTY, the enjoyment of which is divested of all party considerations, and free from all exception. No. II.

VOL. I.

2 F