The Fishery Question. 7 



throne, a restless, but by no means purpose- 

 less, energy inspired her seafaring subjects.'^ 

 French adventurers had demonstrated the in- 

 ability of the Spanish navy to convey the 

 treasure galleons from the West Indies. Mer- 

 chants, explorers and pirates put to sea and 

 English slave dealers forced the Spaniards to 

 relax their exclusive trade regulations/^ 



Formal intimation of a design to acquire 

 North America appeared in Gilbert s petition 

 to Elizabeth making mention of the lands, 

 " fatally reserved for England." '° 



In 1578 Gilbert had secured letters patent 

 to discover, settle and regulate these remote 

 ■countries. Previous to his departure the 

 Government found it expedient to send Sir 

 Thomas Hampshire to the Newfoundland 

 fishing grounds, for the purpose of settling 

 disputes over the pre-emption of shore sta- 

 tions. Gilbert followed in 1583, but the 

 Spanish war ships forced him to return.^' 

 Trying again, the following year he made the 

 harbor of St. Johns where were congregated 

 fishine vessels of several nations. The hos- 

 tility aroused by his appearance, at a time 

 when any strange sail might well be a pirate, 



