JAMES I; MARE LIBERUM 13 



suggestion.! James, however, anxious to preserve peace 

 with Holland, would not countenance a scheme which had 

 for its object the competition of Scotland with the Dutch 

 in the fisheries of the North Sea and the West Coast, which 

 was certain to lead at least to an increase of hostile feeling 

 between the two nations, already sufficiently embittered 

 against each other. Without considering, therefore, the 

 merits of the proposal, James ignored all representa- 

 tions on the subject, and pursued the more agreeable policy 

 of easy toleration towards the encroachments of the Dutch. 



It was, indeed, high time for action to be taken if the 

 Dutch were not to have an absolute monopoly of fishing in 

 British waters. The increasing bitterness during the reign 

 of James of the complaints against the Dutch, is in itself 

 proof that the Hollanders were vigorously extending the 

 field of their operations, and were being led through com- 

 petition with each other to constantly seek new fishing 

 grounds. Their deep-sea fisheries had indeed attained vast 

 proportions. Sir D. Carlton, writing about 1618 to Secre- 

 tary Naunton, asserted that 50,000 people in Holland were 

 maintained by the fisheries on the English coast,- and this 

 statement is borne out by evidence. 



The Dutch deep-sea fishery had been no haphazard 

 growth ; its success was the result of much patient care 

 and thoughtful legislation. Every movement of the Dutch 

 fishing fleet, and every operation on board the vessel em- 

 ployed, was fixed by law, precise saihng orders being issued 

 annually by the College of the Herring Fishing at their 

 annual meeting at Delft, before the opening of the season.^ 



1 Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. I., vol. 229, No. 78. 



2 Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 339, No. 355. 



3 For the constitution of the College, see Beaujon's Essay, p. 62. Roughly 

 speaking, " the Lords of the Grand Fishery " consisted of two delegates 

 from the magistrates " of such towns as are notably concerned in the 

 business." Since no buss could sail without a license granted under seal 

 of the Grand Fishery, obedience to the rules of the college was imperative. 



