colate. The first public notice taken of the superior oil which the seeds yield, was by the late Mr. Morell of Savannah; who, in a communication to the American Philosophical Society, in the year 1769, and published in the first vol. of their Transactions, in 1771, observes that " the seeds make oil equal in quality to Florence, and some say preferable. Some say, one hundred weight of seed will produce ninety pounds of oil, others say less.* Romanst says, Capt. P. M'Kay, of Sunbury, in Georgia,_told him that a quantity of the seed sent to Philadelphia, yielded him twelve quarts per bushel." This account has been confirmed by others. It is highly probable that the Sesamum plant tivation of cotton, would not permit those who had non turnip drill, and sown e gnteen inches apart, was introduced into S. Carolina and Georgia, by land fit for it, to listen to the suggestion of the and the intervals kept clean by the horse hoe, or the African negroes imported at an early period probable advantage to be derived from any other hand hoes. Sickles, or reaping hooks might be after the settlement of that part of the country; crops; but the circumstances of the world are used to cut it down; the early morning after a and there can be no doubt of the plant having now changed. The great tracts of our country at heavy dew, or a misty day, should be chosen, to been continued by them, for the purpose of ad- present devoted and devoting to the cultivation of prevent the dropping of the seeds. ding to the various articles of vegetable aliment, cotton, added to the political situation of the old The stalks must be tied up in small sheaves, as corn, sweet potatoes, and rice, of which their world, has lessened the demand for the article. and set up against the fence, or the side of a field, diet chiefly consists. They also parch the seeds, and consequently diminished the price of it. The where the immature seeds would speedily ripen. and after bruising them in a mortar. make them late embargo too, which the unjust conduct of The direction of Mr. Morell, to begin to cut beinto soup, which they season with salt and pep- the warring powers of Europe forced the American fore all the seeds are ripe, should be strictly at per. The seeds parched and ground with an government to adopt, and which deprived them of tended to, otherwise great loss will be sustained equal quantity of cocoa, make an excellent cho- our cotton, induced France to grow it largely in in cutting and removing the sheaves. In leading her southern regions, and to stimulate the Ita them to the barn from the field, care must be ta lians to a more extended cultivation of it than ken to have the carts tight, in order to save the hitherto. In the last expose of the situation of seed which may shell out; and if a coarse cloth the country by the minister of the interior, it is be spread on the bottom, the quantity of seed sasaid hopes are entertained that France and Italy ved would be much increased. will be able shortly to supply all the cotton that the two countries may require. England also, One of the objections which may arise to the besides her West Indies, will receive it from Af-cultivation of Bene for oil, is the want of a mill to rica, where great exertions are making to raise it, crush the seeds. I shall endeavour to supply this and whence too, it is known one or two vessels want, in a future number of this work.* arrived last year in England with the first cargoes I have recommended the Bene plant to the of the article; it is probable that the cotton of enlarged notice of the southern planters, solely on Africa, will be for some time inferior in quality account of the oil it yields; but it is also worthy to the cotton of the United States, but practice of attention by reason of the medicinal qualities will make perfect, and we shall not for a long of its leaves. This fact alone ought to entitle it time find any sale for our cotton on the continent, to cultivation on every farm in the southern and In 1805, I received some seeds from Georgia, owing to the powerful influence of the French middle states. The dysentery, a disease that freand placed them in the hands of B. M Mahan, emperor; all these causes combined, must ne-quently ravages our country settlements, yields nursery and seedsman, for gratuitous distribution, cessarily diminish the price of cotton, and ought very readily to an infusion of the leaf in water. and in a paper in Doctor Coxe's Medical Muse- to show the planters of the southern states the In the year 1803, during an epidemic flux, which um, vol. 2, I noticed Mr. Morell's account of the necessity of turning their attention to the raising raged with great violence in the upper country of oil, and also the utility of the leaves in dysentery. of new articles of commerce*. South Carolina, this remedy was attended with Within two or three years, Mr. Few, of New the best effects. Three or four leaves infused in Mode of Cultivation.—Mr. Morell directs to York, but formerly of Georgia, commenced the sow the seed in holes about three feet apart, thick mucilage, which may be given to the quana pint of cold water, will in a short time yield a business of expressing the oil for sale:-I have dropping in each about ten grains, and when up used part of one bottle, two years old, for sallad, the plants are to be thinned to three or four of the tity of five or six pints daily. The infusion of during the last year, and can say with safety, that most promising. The seeds will appear (in the dried leaves is equally beneficial. to my taste, it is equal to the finest olive oil ever Georgia,) in September, and when full grown tasted. Several bottles of it were also used at are to be gathered in before they become dry. the table of the late President Jefferson during The method is as follows:-as soon as you per-L. and was probably introduced into our southern This plant (pronounced Binne) is the Sesamum the last year of his administration, and much ad-ceive about three-fourths, or four fifths of the proved of. The oil is clear and light colored, pods ripe on the stalk, and the lower pods begin states, by the negroes from Africa. It abounds in and somewhat thinner than olive oil. It has to lose their seeds, it is time to take it in, for after many parts of Africa, and Sonini, and Brown, both that it does not become rancid by exposure to the falls out of the pod at bottom: then take a sharp for culinary purposes. The negroes in Georgia, moreover this great advantage over the olive oil, that, as much as ripens one day at top, so much late travellers into Egypt, say, it is much cultivated there, for the purpose of feeding horses, and air. The remains of the bottle used in my fa- hatchet bill, or some such weapon, and with it BENE SEED. mily last year, are now as sweet as when it was cut off the stalk, twelve to eighteen inches below boil a handful of the seeds with their allowance opened. This quality was long since remarked any of the seed, holding the stalk with the left of Indian corn. Probably no plant yields a larby Romans, who adds, that the second expres- hand; and when cut, a second person is to re-ger proportion of oil. sion, which is procured by the addition of hot wa-ceive it, keeping it upright, till he has his load; According to a letter of Mr. J. Morell inserted ter, is muddy at first, but on standing, it will de- if turned down, the ripe seed will fall out of the in the first volume of the "Transactions of the posite a white sediment, and become limpid as pods. It is then to be carried to a barn and set American Philosophical Society;" this seed yields the first running. The oil is at first of a slightly upright on a close floor, or left in the field, till all an oil of an equal and even preferable quality, to pungent taste, but soon loses that. Last year the pods are fully ripe and open; then threshed Florence oil; one hundred weight of seed will received a half rice tierce of the seed, which I and sifted. produce ninety pounds of oil; its cultivation sent to Mr. Garnet of New Brunswick, to press, therefore deserves to be strongly recommended. and hope soon to receive the oil from him*. The dibbling plan recommended by Mr. MoShould it prove equal to that which I now have, rel, would be very tedious, even in the southern [Through the kindness of Dr. Mease, the forI will use no other as an article of diet. states, if pursued extensively; for cheap as the mer editor of this Journal, I have had a full opWhen we reflect upon the immense quantities cultivation, there are few estates, where the time of the bene oil, which I find hardly distinguishlabour of slaves is, compared with our northern portunity this summer (1819) of trying the value of every species and quality of oil which are con- which a more expeditious mode of cultivation able from fine olive-oil; I think it contains more sumed in medicine, diet and the arts, we cannot would save, might not be profitably employed. mucilage, which gradually subsides on standing. entertain a doubt of the ready and extensive sale, It is probable, that the seed sown broad cast upon The bene-oil to the south, and the poppy oil in and profit that would attend the cultivation of the Bene Plant. land properly cleansed, and harrowed in, would the middle states, ought to banish entirely te Hitherto, the great profit attending the cul- answer well. Whether it would be necessary to olive-oil from our tables, which we buy at a very mix sand or ashes with the seed, to insure a regu-high price, always adulterated with poppy oil. lar crop, and the quantity of seed per acre, are matters which the experience of a year or two [Edit. Walick's Dom. Enc. would teach. If however, the drill system is *The common flaxseed mills will answer perpreferred, the seed may be dropped from a comfectly well for crushing the seed-but new bags and wedges must be used; and should the machi * A keg of he seeds was sent to the Society by Mr. Morell, but no attempt was made to culti vate the plant. t count of Florida, New York, 1775. * Mr. Garnet has erected a wind-mill upon a new construction, to grind grain, crush flax seed, Jc. [We have to lament the death of this distin guished Philosopher, and excellent man.]-Edit. * These reasons for the cultivation of the sesa-nery be impregnated with the flaxseed, so as to commum plant, do not apply at present, but the dimunicate its strong odour to the sesamum oil first minution in the great price of cotton, owing to pressed, it can be reserved for lamps and mecha other causes, would authorize the extensive cul-nichal uses. [The Editor of the American Fartivation of the plant.-Edit. mer has a few seed for distribution.] COMMUNICATION TO THE PRESIDENT & MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH 5. C. g. c. g. gradual, I would give the grass rows a distance of crops, is also submitted to you. From the first serving publicity, it may not be amiss to lay it week in June, to the end of the season, we had immediately before the public, and thereby expose To the Agricultural Society of South Carolina, little rain, and the acres of manured corn and the plan to be confirmed or rejected, by numerous forwarded for publication by the Chairman potatoes suffered much. The corn fired to a experiments at once. The importance of a preof the Committee on publication. great degree, and certainly was much injured. ventive to the washing of lands, all must admit; Our crops of corn were good, especially those since lands generally do not in fact wear out, but planted in March, and early in April. This fact wash out. If a plan could be devised to obviate As a competitor for some of your premiums of appears to demonstrate the difficulty of obtaining so general a misfortune, altogether practicabie the present year, I beg leave to state the result of of land in our climate-unless the corn be plant- interests of agriculture. a very extraordinary crop of corn from one acre and efficient, it would essentially contribute to the two acres of high land, planted with corn, each ed universally thick. It appears as far as my acre 210 feet square; the one being old pasture experience extends, it cannot make a great crop, propose to establish permanent rows of grass, And in order to effect so desirable an end, I land, much exhausted, but had not been planted and if the season be dry and hot, it then suffers nearly in a horizontal direction across the sides of for a few years past. After being well cow-pen- much. I must state that some experienced corn hills. For example, suppose a hill side to have ned in the fall and winter of 1822-23, and plough- planters are of opinion that my acres were plant- one regular slope down to a stream of water; I ed up three times during that time, it was on ed too thick :-my opinion as to thick planting, would run the rows of grass parallel with the the 8th of March last, planted with flint corn however, appears confirmed from the last year's water course, and apportion their distances to the flush on the ground; the stalks stood in double experience, for neither of the acres shewed any declivity: should the descent be very great, I rows 18 inches along each row, and these rows 18 indication of being too thick, until the serious would have a grass row at the distance of every inches apart, then an alley of 5 feet. The droughts of June and July.-As far as I can judge, six feet, and the corn to occupy the middle space stalks along the rows were not opposite each oth-two good rains in the early part of June, would between the grass, which of course, will give the er, but formed an irregular (or more correctly an have made the crops as good as the quality of corn the same distance with the grass; which isosceles) triangle; no other manure was used the land would have admitted of: ! believe I can may be represented as follows: The black lines but cowpen manure. The other acre planted with confidence state, that there is not on record represent the grass, and the dotted ones the corn. with gourd seed corn, was the same which in 1822, had made 64 bushels and 5 quarts of flint corn; not planted universally thick, and generally any account of a great crop of corn, which was this received an additional manuring of 200 bushels of stable manure, and the same quantity of speaking, the more stalks, the greater the crops, if the land be rich. I take the liberty to state I cotton seed since that crop. This was planted planted an acre of new land with unusual prepain the same way and on the same day as the oth ration in gourd seed corn; this from being also er acre; each acre containing 3000 stalks of this thick, and containing about 5000 stalks, suffered first planting; they were often and well cultivated with the hoe, and twice with the plough. On One half of this quantity, with the usual labour greatly by the drought, but still made 30 bushels. the 5th of June, a second planting took place, bestowed on our new lands, would have been a every 44 feet in the centre of the wide alley, and of this, two stalks were left in each hill. The ing, permit me to suggest to the consideration of good crop. While on the subject of corn plant rows stood nearly east and west, so as to give the second crop, the benefit of the morning and even exists among the best practical farmers even of our Society, the great diversity of opinion which ing sun. The acre of gourd seed corn produced the same neighbourhood, while some contend for 67 bushels, 3 pecks, and 2 quarts of sound and a small number of stalks to the acre, say one merchantable corn, and 1 bushel and 15 quarts of stalk, four or five feet square, others prefer two unripe and rotten corn. From the acre of flint stalks the same distance-indeed the same recorn was obtained 63 bushels and 5 quarts of mark applies with equal force to the other stasound and merchantable corn, and 2 bushels and ples of our State, Cotton and Rice. This con5 quarts of unripe and rotten corn. The first trariety of opinion among the cultivators of each plantings were gathered on the 9th of Septem- crop, appears to be worthy of our attention, and ber, and the second plantings on the 11th of De- whether a premium should be offered for the side of the grass, at the distance of three feet, It will be observed, there is a corn row on each bember last. An acre of similar natural land of most conclusive experiment on a few acres of which still gives, as before, six feet distance to gourd seed corn planted 5 feet square, 2 stalks in land, relative to each staple of our State, (the the corn rows. each hill, produced 16 bushels and 12 quarts; an Society, however, stating the mode of planting be still less, I would give 13 feet to the grass But should the hill's inclination acre of old land made of flint corn, 10 bushels and as regards the number of stalks of corn, and cot-rows, and have three rows of corn between every a half. The first crops of the manured acres of ton, and the distance of the rows of rice, and corn were remarkably sound, there being but 7 quantity of seed rice to each acre;) I leave to two rows of grass. quarts of rotten corn of the gourd seed; and only your better judgments, with the hope if you do five quarts of the flint corn, as appears by the not consider the subject of sufficient importance certificate I have brought for your inspection. to offer the premiums, you will at least receive Although I am sure you will have larger crops these few observations as an evidence of my wish of potatoes offered for your consideration, I shall to promote and advance the agriculture of our state the quantity made from one acre of manured common country. land, and also the produce of two other acres of common land. The first was divided into sixteen beds each, fifty-one feet square, and planted every 12 inches square with slips. The acre contained 40,000 plants, and made two hundred and sixty-three bushels and an half peck. About 1-8th of this acre was planted with what are called Here the corn will have the same distance as sprouts, obtained by taking them from the roots before. The ground of course to be ploughed in as soon as fit to plant out. This part of the land but one direction. The grass must resist the was most productive and made at the rate of rigors of winter, and have a perennial root, withnearly 400 bushels to the acre. An acre of com out spreading beyond the space allotted it. The mon land planted in the usual way, on 34 feet I did not intend communicating to the public, kinds I prefer, from a partial experience, is the beds, with the Red Bermuda potato slips, made through the medium of the press, my plan for tall meadow oat and the Missouri grasses, and a 110 bushels and one peck; the other not far off preserving lands from washing by means of grass, tall winter reed grass. The Missouri and reed in the same old cotton field, planted the same day till established on the broad basis of experience, grasses are abundantly more nutritive than the oat. with vines of the yam potato, made exactly the but, as you have published an allusion thereto, But my plan may be objected to, as superfluous, same number of bushels. The manured acre was which I incidentally made in a little communica- since the deep horizontal ploughing has been inthe one which made in 1822, 280 bushels and 3 tion on summer grafting, I have concluded to of- troduced. But I presume no scientific agricultupecks. Each acre was measured in the same fer you the plan entire; either, for present pub- rist will contend, that this plan is free from obmanner as they were the last year, viz; each lication, or to lay by, till experience shall confirm jections, as it requires more capital and skill, than half bushel, heaped so as to be a lawful and just its utility the people generally can spare; and over a stiff JOHN S. BELLINGER. Pine Forest, Barnwell Dis- 0 To the Editor of the American Farmer. TO PREVENT ARABLE LAND FROM WASHING. DEAR SIR, g. c. C. C. g measure. A certificate relative to each of these! However, should you consider my theory de-lunabsorbent substratum, the crop must be in dan ger of drowning in wet seasons, while the ridges must be somewhat inconvenient for a rotation of cropping; and lastly, the ridges can answer no other purpose, than to save the land; for while they retain superfluous water in wet weather, from their exposure to the air and sun, in a drought, vegetation will suffer more than on an Thus you see what a singular world is our earth, PUBLISHED IN THE AMERICAN FARMER, BY OR please make application at the Office of the Far mer: Egyptian Millet, from N. Herbemonte, Esq. Columbia, South Carolina. North Carolina Field Pea, from Gen. C. Jones, of Raleigh. 0 even surface. All which defects, my plan pro- A report of the tobacco inspected at and de- PRICES OF PRODUCE-collected carefully for poses to remedy, it is so simple, every farmer livered from Magruder's Inspection Warehouse, who can run a tolerable straight furrow, may during the quarter, commencing on the first Monadopt it, and is at same time, as cheap as simple. day in January, eighteen hundred and twentyThe grass will retain the water sufficiently long, four and ending on the first Monday in April, to deposit its alluvion; but not long enough to in-eighteen hundred and twenty-four. jure vegetation. The grass will be as much be nefited by culture, as the grain, and will improve for years. So there will be a two fold intention answered; the land will be preserved from wash Number ining, while a large amount of hay and winter pasture may be obtained; while the crop of grass Number demay not be any less, in consequence of this gram ineous acquisition. For independent of the waste of soil prevented by the grass, the water spected. livered. Domestic Growth not of this state. Re-inspected. 6 1 Total. 6 1 JOSHUA NAYLOR Inspector. from hasty showers which would otherwise escape TREASURY OFFICE, ANNAPOLIS, April 10, 1824. True Copy, from the original report on file before the soil could have time to absorb it, will be retained, to the great benefit of the interme-in this office. When small grain is sown between the grass rows, the mixture of good hay with the straw, will add considerably to its value, while the grass seed, if mature, will blow off with the chaff. ABNER LANDRUM. Edgfield, South Carolina. MORE MISNOMERS. Mr. Forest, a shopkeeper, lives in a lane, Mr. Faith is an infidel, and ne'er goes to Church, Mr. Brown, it is thought, will marry Miss Green, And 'twas only last week Dick Rivers was seen Lucy Nimble is known for a lazy young slut, Mr. Tench could not swim in the water when put, Mr. Legg is laid up with a fit of the gout, Mr. Se der is going to marry Miss Stout, Sally Knight always loves to be seen in the day, Mr. Goodman is reckoned a queer one at least, Younghusband was married when grown very old, Mr. Cruickshank 'tis known had as proper a leg Mr. Rich was compell'd through the country to beg, B. HARWOOD, Tr. W. S. Md. THE FARMER. BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1824. The Tariff Bill has passed the house of representatives by a majority of five votes. In the senate it has been referred to the committee on commerce and manufactures. the American Farmer. Wharf flour, $5 50 per bbl.-Western country, $5 75 do.-Rye, $3 to $3 25 do.-Indian Corn, 30 to 35 cts. per bush.-Wheat, White, $1 15 to $1 17 do.-Barley, 60 to 65 cts.-Whiskey, 25 to 27 cts. per gal.-Peach Brandy, 4th proof, 75 cts. do.-Apple do. 1st proof, 35 to 36 cts.-Beef, northern mess, per barrel $10-Cargo, No. 1, $8 to 8 50-do. No 2, $6-Baltimore prime, $10 do.-Pork, northern mess, per bbl. $14 to 14 |50 do.—prime, $10 50 do.—Baltimore mess, $15 do.-prime, $12 do.-Bacon and Hams, per lb. 9 to 10 cents-Cotton, W. 1. Island, 18 to 20 cts.Louisiana, 15 to 17 cts.-Georgia upland, 14 to 16 cts. -Alabama, 12 to 13 cts.-Candles, mould, 12 to 13 cts-Dipt, 10 to 11 cts-Spermaciti, 28 cts. --Coal, pit, foreign, per bush. 40 cts.-Do. Virginia, 20 to 25cts.-Susquehannah, do. per ton ≤6 50 to 87-Feathers, live, 30 to 35 cts. lb.-Herrings, Susquehannah, $275 per lb.--shad, trimmed, 86 to $6 50 cts. do.-Flax seed, rough, per bushel, 62 cts-Hogs Lard, 9 to 10 cts. lb.-Lime, per bush. 30 to 33 cts.-Leather, Soal, per pound, 24 to 27 cents-ditto Eastern Tan, 18 to 20 cents do. -Salt, St. Ubes, per bushel, cargo prices, 45 to 47 cents-Lisbon, ditto, 45 cts-Cadiz, ditto 40 cts.-Liverpool blown, ditto, 50 to 52 cents-Ground, ditto, 52 to 55 cents-Turks Isand, do. The session of congress will probably not 52 cents. be closed until some time in June. Such changes as have occurred, have been noted above-the sales of fine tobacco have been very Mr. Randolph, an old fashioned republican, brisk the last week, though we have heard of has moved to reduce the per diem of members of none selling higher than $25!! dull tobacco is still congress to six dollars per day: it is not expected dull en ugh! Notice to pass. It is fairly within the scope of this paper, posed to purchase, for constructing the same. to present condensed views of all the great Application by letter or otherwise, directed to branches of American industry and wealth; for the subscriber, in New Garden Township, Chesall emanate from, and have a bearing on Agricul ter county, Pennsylvania, will be promptly atture. Even Fishermen cannot sail, and be subsist-tended to. WM. M'CONAUGHEY. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. ed on the ocean, without the farmer's timber for The Editor acknowledges the receipt of the following seeds for distribution, and gentlemen who wish the same for experiment, will Printed every Friday at 84 per annum, for JOHN S. SKINNER. r difor by JOSEPH ROBINSON, on the North West corner of Market and Belvidere streets, Baltimore; where every description of Book and Job Printing is executed with nea pess and despatch-Orders from a distance for PRINTING or BINDING, with proper directions promptly attended to, addressed to J. Robinson, Baltimore. No. 6-VOL. 6. AMERICAN FARMER.-BALTIMORE, APRIL 30, 1824. THE VALUE OF THE FISHERIES, 41 ،، Agriculture of the Ocean.99 / with a stipulation, that in the event of war be- of the European continent. At the proper seatween the parties, they shall be allowed to con- son, to catch them in endless abundance, little tinue their employment without molestation. more of effort is needed than to bait the hook and As a distinct branch of American wealth and in-Nor is their devotion to their country less con- pull the line, and occasionally even this is not spicuous than their usefulness to their kind. necessary. In clear weather, near the shores, dustry, and their effect on the physical powers, While the huntsman of the ocean, far from his myriads are visible and the strand is at times and moral character and qualities, of those em native land, from his family, and his fire-side, almost literally paved with them. ployed in them; from the pen of the honorable pursues at the constant hazard of his life, his "All this was gradually making itself known J. Q. ADAMS, Secretary of State. game upon the bosom of the deep, the desire of to the enterprise and vigilance of the New EngEXTRACTS. his heart, is by the nature of his situation ever land fishermen, and for a few seasons prior to the Let us now see what was the value of this fish-intently turned towards his home, his children, year 1808, the resort to this employment had ery; this "doubtful accommodation of a few and his country. To be lost to them gives their become an object of attention, from the Thames, fishermen, annually decreasing in number." keenest edge to his fears; to return with the at New London, to the Schoodic; and boats and From the tables in Dr. Seybert's Statistical fruits of his labours to them is the object of all vessels of a small as well as a larger size, were Annals, it will be seen that in the year 1807, there his hopes. By no men upon earth have these flocking to it from all the intermediate parts of were upwards of seventy thousand tons of shipping qualities and dispositions been more constantly the United States. In the fishing season, at the employed in the cod fishery alone; and that in exemplified than by the fishermen of New Eng best places for catching the cod, the New Eng that and the four preceding years, the exports land. From the proceeds of their "perilous and land fishermen, I am told, on a Sunday, swarmed from the United States of the proceeds of the hardy industry," the value of three millions of like flies upon the shores, and that in some of fisheries, averaged three millions of dollars a dollars a year, for five years preceding 1808, was these years, it probably would not make an over year. There was indeed a great diminution added to the exports of the United States. This estimate to rate the number of vessels employed during the years subsequent to 1807, till the close was so much of national wealth created by the in this fishery, belonging to the United States, at of the war-certainly not voluntary, but occasion-fishery. With what branch of the whole body of from 1500 to 2000 sail, reckoning a vessel for each ed by the state of our maritime relations with our commerce was this interest unconnected? trip or voyage, and including the larger boat Europe, by our own restrictive system, and finally Into what artery or vein of our political body did fishery; and the number, if the fisheries were by the war. But no sooner was that terminated, it not circulate wholesome blood? To what sinew continued, would shortly be still further and very than the fisheries revived, and in the year 1816, of our national arm did it not impart firmness and greatly extended. 66 the year after Mr. Russell's letter was written, energy? We are told they were annualty de- "The nursery for seamen, the consequent inthere were again upwards of sixty-eight thousand creasing in number:" Yes! they had lost their crease of power, the mine of wealth, the accutons, employed in the cod fishery alone. From occupation by the war; and where were they mulation of capital, (for it has been justly obDr. Seybert's statements, it appears further, that during the war? They were upon the ocean and served, that he who draws a cod fish from the in this occupation the average of seamen employ upon the lakes, fighting the battles of their coun-sea, gives a piece of silver to his country,) the ed is of about one man to every seven tons of try. Turn back to the records of your revolution; effect upon the trade and custom of Great Britain, shipping, so that these vessels were navigated by ask Samuel Tucker, himself one of the number; and the corresponding advantages to the United ten thousand, of the hardiest, most skilful, soberest, a living example of the character common to them States, of which the enlargement of such an inand best mariners in the world." Every person all, what were the fishermen of New England tercourse was susceptible, (for the stock of fish (says Dr. Seybert,) on board our fishing vessels, in the tug of war for Independence? Appeal to appears inexhaustible,) you are much better able has an interest in common with his associates; the heroes of all our naval wars-ask the van- to conceive than I am to describe; but I with their reward depends upon their industry and en-quishers of Algiers and Tripoli-ask the redeem-pleasure point them anew for your consideration, terprise. Much caution is observed in the selec-ers of your citizens from the chains of servitude, as on many accounts presenting one of the most tion of the crews of our fishing vessels: it often and of your nation from the humiliation of annual interesting public objects to which it can be dihappens that every individual is connected by tribute to the barbarians of Africa-call on the rected. blood, and the strongest ties of friendship. Our champions of our last struggles with Britain-ask Lucrative, however, and imposing in its indivifishermen are remarkable for their sobriety and Hull, and Bainbridge, ask Stewart, Porter, and dual and national bearings, as this fishery was good conduct, and they rank with the most skilful Macdonough, what proportion of New England and was to become, it was little known to the navigators." fishermen were the champions of their victories, leading men of our country, and little spoken of Of these ten thousand men, and of their wives and sealed the proudest of our triumphs with by others, even in Massachusetts, or among those and children, the cod fisheries, if I may be allowed their blood; and then listen if you can, to be told, who were actually engaged in it, and a knowledge the expression, were the daily bread-their pro- that the unoffending citizens of the West were of its existence in any thing like its real extent, perty-their subsistence. To how many thousands not at all benefitted by the fishing privilege, and or future capability, was perhaps confined to not more were the labours and the dangers of their that the few fishermen in a remote quarter, were more than half a dozen heads, (if so many,) in lives subservient? Their game was not only food entirely exempt from the danger. the whole of the Southern and Western, and even and raiment to themselves, but to millions of other But we are told also that "by far the greatest Middle divisions of the Union. human beings. part of the fish taken by our fishermen before "The causes of its value and importance not There is something in the very occupation of the present war, was caught in the open sea, or being a matter of great notoriety here, are obvifishermen, not only beneficent in itself but noble upon our own coast, and cured on our own shores."ous; it was an employment not only in the fishery, and exalted in the qualities of which it requires This assertion is, like the rest, erroneous. but in many instances undoubtedly in trade, with the habitual exercise. In common with the cul- The shore fishery is carried on in vessels of less the British inhabitants; those who were engaged tivators of the soil, their labours contribute to the than twenty tons burthen, the proportion of which, in it made no unnecessary promulgations of their subsistence of mankind, and they have the merit as appears by Seybert's Statistical Annals, is about employment, while the poorer inhabitants of the of continual exposure to danger, superadded to one-seventh of the whole. With regard to the provinces, tasting equally its sweets and advanthat of unceasing toil. Industry, frugality, pati-comparative value of the Bank, and Labrador tages, were alike disposed to keep silence with ence, perseverance, fortitude, intrepidity, souls fisheries, I subjoin hereto, information collected regard to it; but not so situated were the provininured to perpetual conflict with the elements, from several persons, acquainted with them, as cial governments, and the more wealthy of the and bodies steeled with unremitting action, ever their statements themselves will show in their merchants of the sea port towns. They had be grappling with danger, and familiar with death:minutest details. come highly alarmed at the expansion of this these are the properties to which the fisherman fishery and trade; jealous of its progress and claof the ocean is formed by the daily labours of his life. These are the properties for which he who knew what was in man, the Saviour of mankind, sought his first, and found his most faithful, ardent, and undaunted disciples among the fishermen of his country. In the deadliest rancours of national wars, the examples of latter ages have been Extracts from a letter addressed by the honorable morous at its endurance; they, therefore, of late James Lloyd, of the Senate U. S. to the venera-years, have repeatedly memorialized the governble John Adams, as is supposed, to whom Mr. J.ment in England, respecting the fisheries carried Q. A. had applied for any information which on by the Americans, while the whole body of might be amongst his papers, relative to the sub- Scottish adventurers, whose trade both in imports ject in the negotiations of peace in '82-'3. and exports, and control over the inhabitants it The shores, the creeks, the inlets of the Bay curtailed, have turned out in full ery and joined frequent of exempting, by the common consent of Fundy, the Bay of Chaleurs, and the Gulf of the chorus of the colonial government in a cruof the most exasperated enemies, fishermen from St. Lawrence, the Straits of Bellisle, and the sade against the encroachments of the infidels, the operation of hostilities. In our treaties with Coast of Labrador, appear to have been designed the disbelievers in the divine authority of kings, Prussia, they are expressly included among the by the God of Nature as the great ovarium of fish; or the rights of the provinces, and have pursed classes of men "whose occupations are for the the inexhaustible repository of this species of their objects so assiduously that at their o excommon subsistence and benefit of mankind;" food, not only for the supply of the American, but pense, as I am informed from a respectable source, Vol 6.6. in the year 1807 or 8, they stationed a watchman the fish bite well, which is not always the case. Europe, or returns to the United States; and this. in some favourable position near the Straits of and haul their cod in a depth of water from 45 to fish, thus caught and cured, is esteemed the best Canso, to count the number of American vessels 55 fathoms. After catching, they head and open that is brought to market, and for several years which passed those straits on this employment; the fish, and place them in the hold, in an uncured, previous to that of 1808, was computed to furnish who returned nine hundred and thirty-eight as and consequently, in some degree, in a partially three fourth parts of all the dried fish exported the number actually ascertained by him to have perishing state; and after having obtained a fare, from the United States. This fishery was also passed, and doubtless many others, during the or freight, return with it to the United States, to about that time taking a new form, which would night or in stormy or thick weather, escaped his be cured or dried and prepared for exportation; have had a double advantage, both in point of observation; and some of these addressers have but before this is done, or they can be landed, the profit and extension; for some of our merchants distinctly looked forward with gratification to a fish is always more or less deteriorated, becomes were beginning to send their large vessels to the state of war, as a desirable occurrence, which softer, and part of it makes an inferior quality of Labrador Coast, and its vicinity, to receive there, would, by its existence, annul existing treaty sti- fish, called Jamaica fish, and the proportion of from small fishing boats they employed or purpulations, so injurious, as they contend, to their this Jamaica fish is much greater than it would chased from, cured fish, to load their vessels with interests and those of the nation. With what have been had the fish been dried and cured immediately for Europe, thus saving so great an degree of correctness this expectation has been shortly after having been taken, as is the case expense in getting the fish to market abroad, as entertained, the future must determine; but un- with the Coast and Bay Fishery; in addition to would in a short time have given our merchants fortunately these murmurs and complaints reached which, these vessels employed in the Bank Fish-a command of the European markets, and would England, and were industriously circulated about ery are unavoidably obliged to prosecute this bu- have also afforded an encouragement to a small the time that our restrictive measures awakened siness with a great comparative expense, as to but very numerous boat fishery, which, from rean unusual and critical attention to the commer- the wear and tear of their vessels, and loss of time, ceiving the pay for their labour on the spot, could cial connexion between the two countries, and and with an increased degree of hazard, both as not fail to have been greatly excited and increas probably the value and importance of this branch to safety and success. ed, and enabling the persons concerned in the exof it is now at least as fully understood and appre- "The Coast and Labrador Fisheries are prose-portation from the coast, to receive at home the ciated on the eastern as on the western side of the cuted in vessels of from 40 to 120 tons burthen, proceeds of their adventures from abroad, about Atlantic. carrying a number of men, according to their as early as the bank fish could have been put into "Carried away by first impressions, a large part respective sizes, in about the same proportion as a state fit to be exported from the United States; of mankind become not unfrequently the dupes of the vessels on the Bank Fishery. They com- in addition to which, we were prosecuting a very misconception, and adhere to their opinions with mence their voyages in May, and get on the fish-productive salmon and mackarel fishery, in the a pertinacity proportioned to the time they have ing ground about the 1st of June, before which same vicinity, as most of the pickled fish we had entertained them. From a source something like time bait cannot be obtained. This bait is fur- received for some years prior to the war were this, it has been, and is generally, I might almost nished by a small species of fish called capling, caught on those shores. say, universally, believed, by the mass of our which strike in shore at that time, and are followCountrymen, that the right of fishing on the Banks ed by immense shoals of cod fish, which feed of Newfoundland, or as it is properly called, the upon them. Each vessel selects its own fishing Grand Bank, was the great boon acquired, as it ground, along the coasts of the Bay of Chaleurs, respected the fisheries, by the treaty of 1783, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Straits of Bellisle, while unquestionably the fisheries on the Banks the Coast of Labrador, even as far as Cumberof Newfoundland no more belonged exclusively land Island, and the entrance of Hudson's Bay, in possession or the right of control either to Great thus improving a fishing ground reaching in exBritain or the United States, than the air of tent from the 45th to the 68th degree of north laHeaven is the patent property of both or either titude. AGRICULTURE. TO THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF S. C. Charleston, 20th Nov. 1823. GENTLEMEN-It would be presumption in me to offer any thing to your Society on Agricultural subjects; but as we are all interested in the health and prosperity of the low country, and the of them, with power to dole out its use to such "In choosing their situation, the fishermen members of your society more deeply than others, other nations as agree to conform to the stipula- generally seek some sheltered and safe harbour, I submit to you the result of my reflections on tions they may please to prescribe for its enjoy.or cove, where they anchor in about six or seven this, the chief object of my attention. ment. If any thing was gained or secured on this fathoms water, unbend their sails, stow them be- That this part of the State is more sickly now head, it undoubtedly was the Coast Fisheries, on low, and literally making themselves at home, than formerly, I believe you will all agree; that the shores of the British provinces. This is the dismantle and convert their vessels into habita- it may become worse, is ascertained; and on the fishery which will now come under discussion, at tions at least as durable as those of the ancient consequences of this progressive deterioration, we least, if not into contest, between the two coun- Scythians. They then cast a net over the stern must all look with anxiety and apprehension. tries. It is highly important that correct ideas of of the vessel, in which a sufficient number of As far as my observation goes, this increase of its value and extent should be entertained, and capling are soon caught to supply them with bait sickness commenced, with the abandonment of perhaps these could not be more perspicuously from day to day. Each vessel is furnished with the Inland Rice fields, and has advanced in protraced than by taking a relative view of it, com- four or five light boats, according to their size and portion to the number abandoned, and the quanpared with the importance of the Bank Fishery. number of men, each boat requiring two men. They tity of high land cleared. By the former an This I will now briefly attempt; confident, that if leave the vessel early in the morning, and seek immense increase was occasioned in the quantity in doing it I should be reiterating to you the com- the best or sufficiently good spot for fishing, which of miasmata; by the latter, the most efficient munication of facts of a knowledge of which you is frequently found within a few rods of their ves- means of purifying the atmosphere were removed. are already acquainted, the motive will bring sels, and very rarely more than one or two miles I confidently hope that the evil may be arrested along with it its own sufficient apology. distant from them, where they haul the fish as in its progress, and in a great measure removed "The Bank Fishery is carried on in vessels ge fast as they can pull their lines, and sometimes it by means, within the reach and control of all. nerally from 70 to 90 tons burthen, and manned is said that the fish have been so abundant, as to That other countries have been ruined by the with eight or ten men each. They commence be gaft or scooped into the boats, without even a gradual deterioration of climate, can be proved their voyages early in March, and continue in this hook or line; and the fishermen also say that the by history; and the situation of Italy in particuemployment until the last of October, in which cod fish have been known to pursue the capling in lar, may be known from the publications of time they make two, and sometimes three, fares such quantities, and with such voracity, as to run Sismondi, Chateauvieux and others.-Even where to the United States, bringing their fish home to in large numbers quite out of water on to the shores. rice is cultivated on the banks of the Arno and be cured. The produce of these trips, if success The boats return to the vessels about nine o'clock the Po, although sickly, the prevalence of sickful, after paying the shoresmen the expense of in the morning, at breakfast, put their fish on ness is nothing, compared with that in the nemaking or curing, generally furnishes a sufficient board, salt and split them; and after having fished glected sea coast, and even the Champagna di quantity of dried fish to load the vessel for Europe. several days, by which time the salt has been Romana, which was once the garden of Italy. We These vessels employed in fishing require cables sufficiently struck in the fish first caught, they also know that where countries had been notoof from 160 to 180 fathoms in length. They must carry them on shore and spread and dry them on riously sickly, they have been rescued from that always keep their sails bent to the yards, so as to rocks or temporary flakes. This routine is fol-deplorable situation, by proper draining and culbe ready, in case of accident to the cable, or any lowed every day, with the addition of attending tivation Particular instances of this kind in our of those adverse occurrences to which tempests to such as have been spread, and carrying on board own State, must be familiar to you all, and the or the casualties incident to anchoring nearly in and stowing away those that have become suffi- reverse from neglect or imprudence, is unhappily mid ocean, must expose them. They purchase ciently cured, until the vessel is filled with dried too true Many healthy situations have been salted clams for bait, which they procure at con fish, fit for an immediate market, which is gene ruined by inconsiderate clearings-by Mill Pon is siderable expense, and take with them from the rally the case by the middle or last of August, and and Reserves, and again have been restored to United States. They fish night and day, when with which she then proceeds immediately to health by removing the sources of sickness. |