INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES 31 



The twelve writers mentioned in the note a were not, with men repre- 

 the exception of Hagthorpe, colonial enthusiasts, but they ""^ ji c h 

 unanimously praised the Newfoundland fisheries for three was naval, 

 reasons. First, ' the greatest jewel of this realm, and the 

 chiefest strength and force of the same for defence and offence, 

 is the multitude of ships and mariners ', 2 and ' it is the long 

 voyages that increase and maintain great shipping '. 3 Pro- 

 clamations and Acts of Parliament, passed in 1540, 1552, and 

 1562, ordered fast-days to be kept, in order that fishing-fleets 

 might grow in skill, size and number, for in those days fleets 

 which fought were fleets which fished or traded, and, when- 

 ever war seemed imminent, there was a ' general arrest ' or 

 embargo on merchant-ships and sailors. The policy was 

 justified by results. In the east of England, large ships 

 belonged to big commercial companies, and fishing-ships 

 were small and rarely went far; Frobisher's voyage from 

 London to Hudson Strait in two barks of only 25 tons and 

 20 tons (1576) being the exception which proved the rule. 

 On the other hand, individuals living in the west of Europe 



1 I. Captain R. Hitchcock, Pollitique Plait, written before 1577 

 (printed 1580), in Dr. Arber's English Garner, vol. ii, p. 144. 



a. Dr. John Dee, General and Rare memorials . . . of Navigation, 

 or The Brytish Monarchie, 1577. 



3. E. Jeninges, Brief Discovery of the Damages that happen to this 

 realme by disordered and unlawfull diet, 1593. 



4. J. Keymor, Observations on the Dutch Fishing, 1601 ; Observa- 

 tions touching Trade and Commerce with the Hollander (wrongly 

 attributed to Sir W. Ralegh). 



5. Tobias Gentleman, England' : s Way to win Wealth, . . . by 

 building . . . busses, &c., 1614. 



6. J. R., Traders Increase, 1615, pp. 13, 26. 



7. E. S., Britaines Busse, 1615. 



8. T. Mun, Discourse of Trade, 1621, p. 57. 



9. E. Misselden, Free Trade, 1622, p. 35. 



10. J. Hagthorpe, England's Exchequer, or a Discourse of the 

 Sea and Navigation, -with some things thereto coincident concerning 

 Plantations, 1625. 



11. H. Robinson, England's safety in Trade s Increase, 1641. 



12. Lewes Roberts, Treasure of Trafficke, 1641, p. 59. 



3 Sir G. Peckham, in Hakluyt's Principal Navigations, vol. viii, 

 p. no. 



8 SirH. Gilbert, in Hakluyt's Principal Navigations, vol. vii, p. 185. 



