46 CHARLES I. 



The Burghs had desired very extensive reservation of 



the fishings m the lochs on the mauiland and in the islands, 

 reserving for the most part all inland fishings. With regard 

 to Orkne}' and Shetland they had said it was necessary to 

 reserve all the coasts and fourteen miles ofi the islands, 

 although they were wdlhng to submit m this matter to the 

 king's pleasure. 



The Council thus reported to the kuig that the Burghs 

 were willing to " relinquish the universahtie of thair former 

 exceptiain and to restrict the same to certane particular 

 fishmgs without the whiche (as they affirme) the trade of 

 the countrie will be muche impaired." ^ 



That the Scots were by no means reconciled to the idea 

 of a joint fishery is e\ddent from the following " Reasons 

 why the English and Scots cannot join in ye fishing on ye 

 sea coast, Isles and loches etc.," from a contemporary MSS." 

 The writer tabulates his reasons thus : " Inprimis, because 

 we are natives of the Island, and ye sole hberties and pri\n- 

 ledges of ye sd fishings belong to us within lochs and lands 

 and along the coast, and no stranger ought to be admitted 

 to ye Hberties of ye samen to participate with us of ye com- 

 moditie thereof. 



" 2ndly, In respect the Lord God hath given to us the 

 fishing of ye Lochs, Isles and Seas of this land to be the 

 wealth and ritches of ye land, therefore no ojr stranger 

 ought to have ye benefite of the same bot ye natives only. 

 '' 3rd, Where it is alledged that the fishing is so great that 

 the natives are not able to undertake it. It is answered 

 concerning the fishings on the Lochs and Isles and upon the 

 coast that ye natives are abell to provide for sla\4ng and 

 takeing of those fish within those bounds. 



'• 4thly, Albeit bushes be required for fishing upon ye main 

 sea, yet bushes are not needful nor required for fishing 



1 Act. Pari. Scotland, vol. v. pp. 238, 239. 



2 M3S. 32.1.16., Advocates' Librarj-, Edinburgh. 



