26 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



coast or interfering in waters where nets were spread, were 

 liable to seizure and confiscation. 1 



During these years the Newfoundland fishing business 

 prospered and increased with all nations engaged in it. 

 The profits already were so manifest that the English early 

 desired a monopoly of the privilege of making and curing 

 the fish on the island. Merchants had begun to quarrel 

 among themselves for the advantage of shore locations. 

 After the accession of Elizabeth to the throne there was 

 greater activity in her seafaring subjects. 2 In 1577, there 

 was a total of 315 sails at Newfoundland, some authorities 

 placing the number as high as four hundred. France was 

 still in the lead with 150 ships. Spain had about 100, 

 Portugal had 50, while England had but fifteen sails. 

 England still sent fishing vessels to Iceland, and this fact 

 may account for the small number sent to Newfoundland. 

 Sabine states that the English ships were superior to those 

 of the other nations, that they gave protection to the others, 

 and exacted tribute or payment for the service. 



Nearly half a century had now passed since the English 

 made their first attempt to establish a permanent settle- 

 ment in America. The merchants of the day realized the 

 disadvantage of carrying on the fisheries at so great a dis- 

 tance from the base of supply; they saw that a colony in 

 the New World would facilitate the prosecution of the New- 

 foundland fisheries and would lead to the development of 

 other kinds of business. Further attempts at colonization, 

 therefore, were quickened by the desire to place the Ameri- 

 can fishing interests on a more economical basis. 



In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert had secured letters 

 patent to discover, settle and regulate these remote coun- 

 tries. Previous to his departure from England the govern- 

 ment sent Sir Thomas Hampshire to the fishing grounds 



1 Sabine, p. 38. 



2 Isham, p. 7. 



