442 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



fish, or its carriage coastways, unless such fish had been caught 

 by subjects. This prohibition was ineffective, 1 and it was now 

 replaced by the imposition of double customs on all kinds of 

 dried or salted fish imported, if caught or brought by vessels 

 other than English. 2 Three years later, the importation of 

 fresh herrings, cod, haddocks, and coal-fish was absolutely pro- 

 hibited unless they had been taken and imported in vessels 

 certified to be English. 3 With the view of still further pro- 

 moting the fisheries, the same prohibition was afterwards ex- 

 tended to cured fish and certain other fresh fish, 4 which 

 practically restored the provision of the first Act of 1651. 

 To a large extent these variations were due to the trade 

 rivalries that existed in England, the party which was 

 uppermost at the time forcing the measures that were most 

 in its interest. 



Besides protective duties and monopolies, more direct means 

 of encouraging the fisheries were tried. The always attractive 

 idea was revived of establishing a great national fishery society, 

 which, on the one hand, would enrich those who supported 

 it with their purse, and on the other hand would increase the 

 prosperity and the power of the country. Simon Smith, who 

 had been the agent of the Royal Fishery Society in the reign 

 of Charles I., lost no time in presenting to the king his two 

 books on the subject, along with a petition in which he dwelt 

 upon the advantages that would accrue to the nation from the 

 labours of such an association. 5 Smith recommended that all 

 the corporations and county towns in the kingdom should con- 



1 Bills to repeal it were introduced into the Commons in 1656, 1657, and 1658. 

 Commons' Journals, vii. 451, &c. 



2 An Act for the Encouraging and Increasing of Shipping and Navigation, 12 

 Car. II., c. 18, cl. v. 1660. 



8 An Act for the Encouragement of Trade, 15 Car. II., c. 7, ss. xiii., xiv. 1663. 



4 An Act against importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts beyond the Seas, 

 and Fish taken by Foreigners, 18 & 19 Car. II., c. 2, s. ii. Any ling, herring, 

 cod, pilchard, fresh or salted, dried or bloated, or any salmon, eels, or conger, 

 taken by aliens and brought into the realm, were liable to be seized by any person 

 for his own benefit and the benefit of the poor of the parish. The prohibition to 

 import stockfish and live eels was withdrawn by 32 Car. II., c. 2, 1680. 



5 "To the High and Mighty Monarch Charles ye Second, &c., the humble 

 petition of Simon Smith, late agent for the Royall Fishing," MS. prefixed in a 

 copy of The Herring-Bvsse Trade, and A True Narration of the Royall Fishings of 

 Great Brittaine and Ireland, bound together in vellum, elaborately ornamented in 

 gold, and bearing the royal arms and the letters C. R. on both sides. 



