no CHARLES II. 



ended when some of those many EngUshmen who were 

 still of opinion that the fishing was an industry worthy of 

 national support, were endeavouring to rouse pubUc interest 

 in their scheme. In a short time they had enlisted the 

 sympathy of a sufficient number of people to form another 

 company, and in March, 1676, the scheme took practical 

 shape. The Earls of Suffolk, Scarsdale, and Carlisle, with 

 some others, represented to the king that they had raised 

 a common stock with a view to engaging in the fishing 

 industry, and petitioned that they should be given letters 

 patent incorporating them as a company. They further 

 asked that the proposed company should be granted certain 

 privileges, prominent among these being an allowance 

 out of the Customs of £20 per annum for seven years for every 

 ship to be employed, and of £50 per annum for the main- 

 tenance of an orthodox minister for ever, at • the place 

 where the company should settle the fishery. In addition 

 to this, they asked that they should be allowed to land 

 their fish without pajdng duty, and that they might be 

 granted the moneys formerly collected for the Royal Fishery 

 by virtue of the Commission of 22nd August, 1661. They 

 asked also that all foreigners becoming employees of the 

 company for seven years should be naturahsed, and that all 

 foreign-built vessels belonging to the company should be 

 recognised as being Enghsh ships to all intents and purposes. ^ 

 These proposals were placed before the Commissioners of 

 Customs for their approval ; the king, however, did not 

 wait for their report, but, in May, 1676, granted a warrant 

 for a charter of incorporation of the Company of the Royal 

 Fishery of England. ^ 



1 Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 379, No. 87, I. 



^Ibid. vol. 382, No. 39. 



Warrant, May, 1676. 



Our will and pleasure is that you prepare a Bill fitt for Our Royall signa- 

 ture to passe our great seale of England, containing our Charter and Grant 

 of Incorporation unto the Adventurers and Undertakers of the fishing 



