THE ROYAL FISHERY 115 



The company for the fishmg estabhshed in Scotland under 

 the patronage of Charles II. had, naturally, laboured 

 under the same disadvantages as that estabhshed by him 

 in England, and hke it, but at an earUer date, had 

 succumbed under the untoward set of circumstances pro- 

 duced by the Dutch wars.^ The Royal Company, however, 

 although it had ceased to prosecute the fishing, still 

 continued to exact a tax of six pounds Scots on all herring 

 exported from Scotland. In 1690, by Act of Parhament, 

 the Company was formally dissolved ; the right to exact 

 this tax was now withdrawn and the merchants of the 

 Royal Burghs were invited " to employ their stocks and 

 industry in the trade of fishing and cureing of herring," all 

 privileges taken from them at the erection of the Royal 

 Company being now restored. ^ 



With the accession of WiUiam and Mary, renewed efforts 

 were made to encourage the fishing industry, efforts which 

 ultimately were crowned with success. The seventeenth 

 century had witnessed a long series of unsuccessful attempts 

 on the part of Britain to cope with her Dutch rivals in the 

 fishing trade ; the eighteenth century was to see Britain 

 supreme in the North Sea. 



1 Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland, vol. iv., p. 72. 

 - Act. Pari. Scotland, vol. is., p. 224. 



