The Fishery Qitestion. 9 



the formation of the Northampton Company 

 in 1610. Lord Bacon, one of the associates, 

 was wiUing to leave gold hunting to others, 

 but appreciated the Fisheries "like which, of 

 all minerals, there is none so rich." James I., 

 by the terms of this patent, conveyed all New- 

 foundland from the forty-sixth to the fifty- 

 second degree north latitude, with all seas 

 and islands within ten leagues of the coast, 

 but reserved to persons of all nations the 

 right of fishing, except between capes St. 

 Mary and Bona Vista, where the company 

 attempted to enforce a monopoly. 



Complaints were loud against the patentees. 

 Whitburne, engaged since 1591 in the fishery, 

 was sent to Newfoundland to hear the evi- 

 dence of one hundred and seventy English 

 ship-masters, who claimed that the company 

 taxed their cargoes, exacted fees and pre- 

 vented them from obtaining bait. On his 

 arrival he held a Court of Admiralty, but 

 without restoring tranquillity, for in 161 8 the 

 merchants of Devon sent a petition to the 

 Privy Council, in which old grievances were 

 recited and the insecurity of the seas, by 

 reason of piracies, was rehearsed.^^ T\i^ 

 Northampton Company set up a denial of the 



