But they still had the seamen, the most
important material for this fishery; and they still retained the
spirit of fishing: so that at the reestablishment of peace they were
capable in a very short time of reviving their fishery in all its
splendor. The British government saw that the moment was critical.
They knew that their own share in that fishery was as nothing. That
the great mass of fishermen was left with a nation now separated from
them: that these fishermen however had lost their ancient market, had
no other resource within their country to which they could turn, and
they hoped therefore they might, in the present moment of distress,
be decoyed over to their establishments, and be added to the mass of
their seamen. To effect this they offered extravagant advantages to
all persons who should exercise the whale fishery from British
establishments. But not counting with much confidence on a long
connection with their remaining possessions on the continent of
America, foreseeing that the Nantuckois would settle in them
preferably, if put on an equal footing with those of great Britain,
and that thus they might have to purchase them a second time, they
confined their high offers to settlers in Great Britain. The
Nantuckois, left without resource by the loss of their market, began
to think of removing to the British dominions: some to Nova Scotia,
preferring smaller advantages, in the neighbourhood of their ancient
country and friends; others to great Britain postponing country and
friends to high premiums.
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