36 



1415, but there is no account ot their fishing at Newfoundland prior to 

 1 517. Some writers suggest that the French commenced at the same 

 time. But the fact, generally admitted, that ships from England, 

 France, Spain, and Portugal, to the number of fifty, were employed in 

 1517, is alone sufficient to show that the fishing grounds had been visited 

 'for several years. Indeed, to consider that the French went to New- 

 foundland for the first time in 1504, and that in thirteen years, and in 

 the infancy of distant and perilous voyages, their adventures had at- 

 tracted the attention of three other nations to the extent just stated, is 

 to allow an increase of flags and of vessels so rapid as to still require 

 explanation, without a knowledge of the fishing enthusiasm of the pe- 

 riod. Besides, some forty or fifty houses for the accommodation of fish- 

 ermen were built at Newfoundland as early as 1522. 



A letter is preserved in the Memoir of Sebastian Cabot, written by 

 John Rut to Henry the Eighth, and dated at St. John, Newfoundland, 

 August 3, 1527, which seemingly warrants the conclusion that the Eng- 

 lish fishery, at that time, was of little consequence, since he states that 

 he found "eleven saile of Normans, and one Brittaine, and two Portu- 

 gall barkes" in that harbor, but makes mention of no others, and pro- 

 poses to sail along the coast to "meete" the only vessel of his own flag 

 known by him to be in that region. 



An eflbrt to found a colony was made, however, in 1536, under the 

 auspices and at the expense of Mr. Hore, a wealthy merchant of Lon- 

 don. A company of one hundred and twenty persons was formed, of 

 whom thirty were gentlemen of education and character. They ar- 

 rived at Newfoundland, but accomplished nothing. Many perished of 

 starvation. The survivors fed on the bodies of the dead, and finally 

 reached England. 



Twelve years later, we find that the fishery was considered of great 

 national importance, and worthy of legislative encouragement. Thus, 

 an act was passed by Parhament imposing severe penalties on persons 

 eating flesh on fish-days. The punishment for the first offence was a 

 fine of ten shillings, ten days' imprisonment, and abstinence from meat 

 during the same time; while for the second, these inflictions were 

 doubled. The sick and aged, to whom flesh was nece^ssary, were ex- 

 empted on obtaining licenses from the ecclesiastical authorities.* 



Another act, of 1548, and remarkable as the first of England which 



Art. II. In cases where particular circumstances have occurred diuing the voyage, we re- 

 serve to ourselves the regulation of the premium in such a manner as those circumstances 

 may deem to require. 



We order and command that the present shall be inserted in the State paper, and that all 

 ministerial departments and authorities, colleges and officers, are charged with the due execu- 

 tion of these presents. 



Given in Graveuhague, (Hague,) the 6th March, in the year 1318, in the fifth of our reign. 



William. 

 By the King : A. R. Falk. 



* A license to eat meat on fish-days is too great a curiosity, m our time, to be omitted. The 

 following is a copy of one, granted in the reign of James the First, of England : 



" Whereas Mr. Eichard Young, of Okeboume St. George, in the countye of Wiltes, Es- 

 quire, is a Gent, of good age, subject to many sicknesses, diverse infirmities, and in bodye of 

 a very weak constitution, and hath with him in his house his mother, Mris. Ann Young, 

 widowe, a Genf. of great age (above four score) very sicklye, feeble, and subject to diuerse 

 maladies, and having others in his house sicke, and have long bine, to whom fish, by reason of 



