8 The Fishery Qitestion. 



abated when he announced his purpose and 

 displayed his authority. 



He was conducted on shore by the EngHsh 

 captains, read his commission in the presence 

 of a polyglot assembly, and took ceremonial 

 possession of the island and all surrounding 

 lands within a circumference of two hundred 

 leao^ues. 



No attempt was made to prevent a free 

 fishery except that before his departure a trib- 

 ute was levied on foreigners in acknowledg- 

 ment of the Queen's rights.-^ 



A report that Frobisher had discovered 

 gold mines in America stimulated the exer- 

 tions of the English. There were many dan- 

 gers to face besides those of the sea. Drake 

 was cruising against the Spaniards. There 

 were murderous quarrels among the fisher- 

 men and the line was beeinnine to be drawn 

 between the French and the English. The 

 detention of Clark and the pillage of his ship 

 by Frenchmen immediately led to the arming 

 of English crews. Soon afterwards, Lee and 

 Heywick made a prize of one of the hostile 

 French vessels and brought it back with them 

 in 1597. Guy's treatise on Newfoundland, 

 the result of a two years' residence, induced 



