Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/46

 90 TH& FAMIKB Q¥ 1789--90. 1790 aions in store would not hold out more tlian three or four months ; and if relief had not arrived when it did — in June — a still farther redaction would haye become necessary. Phillip's efEorts to add to the stock of food by fishing and shooting were but moderately successful. The seines ^pp^^ were constantly in use ; but, whether it was that fish were unusually scarce, or that the season of the year was un- favourable for netting, or that the fishermen were wanting in skill, certain it is that the food obtained in this way was generally small and always precarious. Occasionally a good haul was made, and fish was served out in lieu of beef or pork ; but, at best, the food obtained in this way was unimportant in quantity.* It scarcely made up for the " loss on every cask '^ of salt meat, which, according to Phillip, amounted to ^^ some pounds.'' Still it was a help, and Game- Phillip was thankful for it. The quest for game was so unsuccessful that the parties were disbanded and the men sent back to their ordinary employments, f The real monel, and toast it on a fork before the fire, catching the drops irliieh ieO. on a slice of bread, or in a saucer of rice. Our flour was the remnant of what was brought from the Cape, by the Sirius, and was good. Instead of baking it, the soldiers and conyicts used to boil it up with greens." — Tenoh, Complete Account, p* 40 Cnote). According to the same authority, a woman died from eating too freely of a " mess of flour and greens." given up for the public benefit; and a fishery was establithed at Botany Bay, under the inspection of one of the midshipmen of the Sirius. But this plan, not being found to answer, was soon relinquished. The quantity of fish that was from, time to time taken was very inconsiderable, and tbe labour of transporting it by land from thence was greater than the advantage which was expect^ to be derived from it. The boats were therefore rectJIed, and employed with rather more success at Sydney.'* — Collins, vol. i, p. 106. f " Neither was much advanta^pe obtained by employing people to shoot for tiie public At the end of the month .only three small kangaroos had been brought in." — Collins, voL i, p. 106. Writing a month Uter (May, 1790), Collins stated : — " The eipedirat of shooting for the public not being found to answer the expectations which had been formed of it, sixty pounds of pork only bavins heen saved, the game-kiUers were called in, and the general exertioa was directed to the business of fishing. The seine and the hook and lines were employed, and with various success, the best of which afforded but a very trifling relief." — Ib.» p. 110. ** The greatest quantity of fish caught at any one time in this month [May] was two hundred pounds. Once the seine was full, but, through either the wilfulness or the ignorance of the people employed to land its, the greatest part of its contents escaped. Upwards
 * " The few convicts who had been employed to shoot for individuals were