2 The FisJicry Question. 



Mexico and in South America.^ Her fisher- 

 men gradually left the banks during the seven- 

 teenth century/ Spanish claims were revived 

 as late as 1783, but only in the faint hope of 

 bartering them with England for the surren- 

 der of Gibraltar.5 



Caspar Cortereal sailed from Portugal in 

 1 501. Upon his return fishing companies 

 were formed, and three years later the indus- 

 try was strong enough to pay a tax of ten per 

 cent, on profits into the custom-houses of 

 Emanuel II. "^ 



The conquest of Portugal by Spain did not 

 immediately end the participation of the for- 

 mer in the Fishery. Portuguese vessels were 

 still numerous in 1583. Then the numbers 

 rapidly declined.^ In 15 17 the French flag is 

 supposed to have had the largest representa- 

 tion in Newfoundland waters. Verrazano, by 

 virtue of whose explorations France claimed 

 a title in the New World, sailed under a 

 French commission in 1523, perhaps to cruise 

 against the Spaniards. Just what he accom- 

 plished, the following year, is very difficult to 

 determine. He may have touched at New- 

 foundland before his return to port.^ France, 

 now consolidated under Francois I., was at last 



