Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/418

 The Bays and Harbours about it, are very numerous and convenient, and being deeply indented, makes it eay for any Intelligence quickly to pas from one Harbour to another over Land; epecially the principal, St. John’s and Placentia, when the Appearance of an Enemy makes them apprehend Danger.

They are able to cure and export about 100000 Quintals (100 Weight each) of Fih, annually, which returns to England in Money, or the neceary Commodities of Portugal, Spain and Italy. As it therefore expends abundance of Rum, Molous and Sugar, the Product of our Wet-India Colonies, and employs a Number of Fihermen from home every Seaon, by whoe Indutry and Labour only this Fih is purchaed, it may very well be reckon’d an advantagious Branch of Trade.

But the preent Deign of this Digreion being not to give an exact Decription of the Country or Fihery; but rather how it accidentally contributes to raie, or upport the Pyrates already rais’d, I hall oberve,

Firt, That our Wet Country Fihing-Ships, viz. from Topham, Barntable and Britol, who chiefly attend the Fihing Seaons, tranport over a coniderable Number of poor Fellows every Summer, whom they engage at low Wages, and are by their Terms to pay for Paage back to England. When the Newfoundland Ships left that Country, towards Winter, in the Year 1720, thee Paengers muter’d 1100, who, during the Seaon of Buines, (the Hardnes of their Labour, and Chilnes of the Nights, pinching them very much) are motly fond of drinking Black Strap, (a trong Liquor ued there, and made from Rum, Molous, and Chowder Beer;) by this the Majority of them out-run the Contable, and then are neceitated to come under hard Articles of Servitude for their Maintenance in the Winter; no ordinary Charge, indeed,