STATUTES, PROCLAMATIONS, RULES, ORDERS, ETC. 855 



and that for the repairing of such stages as he or they take they shall 

 fetch timber out of the woods and not to do it with the ruining or 

 tearing down of other stages. Fourthly that according to the ancient 

 custom every ship or fisher that first entereth a harbour in behalf of 

 a ship be Admiral of the said harbour wherein for the time being he 

 shall reserve only so much beach and flakes or both as is needful for 

 the number of boats as he shall use with an overplus only for one boat 

 more than he needeth as privilege for his first coming and that every 

 ship coming after content themselves with what he shall have neces- 

 sary use for without keeping or detaining any more to the prejudice 

 of others next coming, and that any that are possessed of several 

 places in several harbours with intent to keep them all before they 

 can resolve upon which of them to choose shall be bound to resolve 

 and send advice to such after comers in those places as expect his 

 resolution and that within forty eight hours if the weather do serve 

 that the said after comers may likewise choose their places and so 

 none receive prejudice by others delays. Fifthly that no person cut 

 out deface or any way alter or change the marks of any boats or 

 train vats whereby to defraud the right owners, and that no person 

 convert to his own use the said boats or train vats so belonging to 

 others without their consents nor remove nor take them, from the 

 places where they be left by the owners, except in case of necessity, 

 and then to give notice thereof to the Admiral and others whereby 

 the right owners may know what is become of them. Sixthly that 

 no person do diminish take away purloin or steal any of the fish or 

 train or salt which is put in casks train vats or cookrooms or other 

 house in any of the harbours or fishing places of the country or any 

 other provision belonging to the fishing trade or to the ships. Sev- 

 enthly that no person set fire on any of the woods of the country or 

 work any detriment or destruction to the same by rinding of the 

 trees either for the sealing of ships holds or fo*r rooms on shore or 

 for any other uses except for the covering of the roofs for cook- 

 rooms to dress their meat in and those rooms not to extend above 

 sixteen feet in length at the most. Eightly that no man cast anchor 

 or ought else hurtful which may breed annoyance or hinder the 

 haling of seins for bait in places accustomed thereunto. Ninthly 

 (.hat no person rob the nets of others out of any drift boat or drover 

 for bait by night nor take away any bait out of their fishing boats 

 by their ships sides nor rob or steal any of their nets or any part 

 thereof. Tenthly that no person do set up any tavern for selling of 

 wine beer strong waters cider or tobacco to entertain the fishermen 

 because it is found that by such means they are debauched neglecting 

 their labours and poor ill governed men not only spent most part of 

 their shares before they come home upon which the life and mainte- 

 nance of their wives and children depend but are likewise hurtful in 

 divers other ways as by neglecting and making themselves unfit for 

 their labour by purloining and stealing from their owners, and by 

 making unlawful shift to supply their disorders which disorders they 

 frequently follow since those occasions have presented themselves. 

 Eleventhly that upon the Sundays the Company assemble in meet 

 places and have divine service to be said by some of the masters of 

 the ships or some others which prayers shall be such as are in the 

 Book of Common Prayer. And moreover and further then was 

 ordained by the laws of our said late father and for the encourage- 



