vi PREFACE 



powerful commercial rival a trade which was admittedly 

 her greatest source of wealth. Since the members of the 

 societies for the fishing included both Englishmen and Scots- 

 men, they represent also, in lesser degree, that growing 

 recognition of the necessity for co-operation between Eng- 

 land and Scotland in commercial undertakings which 

 ultimately proved one of the essential factors in the move- 

 ment for a closer union between the two countries. 



The materials for this account of the Royal Fisheries 

 have been found in the University Library, Aberdeen, the 

 Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, the British Museum and 

 the Record Office, London. I here acknowledge grate- 

 fully my indebtedness to Mr. P. J. Anderson, Librarian, 

 Aberdeen University, and to his assistants, to Mr. Dickson 

 of the Advocates' Library, and to the authorities and 

 officials in the British Museum and the Record Office. I 

 have to thank Mr. John Clarke, Lecturer in Education 

 in the University of Aberdeen, for calling my attention 

 to certain publications bearing on my subject. 



My deepest thanks are due to Professor C. Sanford Terry, 

 of Aberdeen University, who has evinced the greatest interest 

 in my research, and whose kindly advice has throughout 

 been invaluable to me. 



Finally, I would express my obligation to the Carnegie 

 Trustees for their generous grant in aid of the publication 

 of this book. 



JOHN R. ELDER. 



ABERDEEN, November, 1911. 



