THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING 47 



within the lochs, isles and upon the coasts, but ye nation is 

 provided, and may be provided of oyr sufficient vessels for 

 fishing within all those bounds. 



" 5thly, If any stranger should resort to ye lochs and Isles, 

 they should not only harm and hurt us of the fishing, but 

 likeways should buy up all ye commodities of ye land whatsor, 

 both in Isles and mainland adjacent yrto, so that the natives 

 should be wholly debarred therefrae. 



" Gthly, If any strangers should be permitted to fish in our 

 liberties, these would not only prejudge us but the haill 

 countrie, for when ye fish ar taken by the natives, they are 

 brought home to ye countrie and the countrie served by 

 them, whereas strangers would carry the same away, and 

 ye countrie people would receive no benefite. 



" 7thly, If the English and we were agreed to fish togither, 

 it would prejudice the countrie, by reason when we have 

 gotten fish as they have gotten, we bring home our fish to 

 ye countrie, and when we transport our fish out of the coun- 

 trie to any land or any oyr part else we must pay the king's 

 custom and bullion, as likeways we must pay it in England, 

 so we pay twice customes and bullion qras the English 

 pays none, so that they may sell their commoditie a 

 great deal cheaper, which will redound to our great 

 hurt. 



" Sthly, Albeit it be by his Majesty's will to have all his 

 fishings common to his leidges, it is answered it is no reason 

 that the English should be partakers of our commodities 

 be reason they cannot do the like benefite to us, but only 

 that is common both to the ffrench and fflemings." 



The king, however, although he must have been well 

 aware that his scheme was evoking no great enthusiasm in 

 Scotland, was determined to carry it out, and in September, 

 1632, " after long tyme and manie meetings between the 

 commissioners of both our kingdomes for a generall associa- 

 tion for the fishing, whereat we our selffe for the most part 



