The Minor Colonial Ports 81 



cod-fish, thus ruining their voyages. Worse yet, 

 in the view of these sturdy colonials, was the 

 haughty and insolent bearing of the Zephyr's 

 captain. Furthermore, two vessels that had been 

 fitted out by the London company joined the 

 sloop-of-war in her raid, and profited much by 

 robbing the fishermen of their hard-earned fares. 

 On an appeal to the king he sustained the rights 

 of the colonists to fish and trade on those coasts, 

 but Governor Palliser was still able to forward 

 the interests of the London people. Another 

 proclamation was issued in which it was declared 

 that the cruisers on the coast were to afford every 

 protection and encouragement to the colonial 

 fishermen. At the same time, however, the 

 colonial ships were to be "under certain necessary 

 Restrictions." Thus they were not to land to 

 cut up whales and save the oil. To justify still 

 further interference with the colonials it was 

 asserted that they were in the habit of "plunder- 

 ing whoever they find on the coast too weak to 

 resist them; obstructing our Ship Adventurers 

 from Britain, . . . destroying their fishing works 

 on shore, stealing their boats, Tackle and Utensils, 



