THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING 51 



ultimate decision with regard to the fishings to be reserved 

 for the natives. His letter, dated Oatlands, 31st July, 1632, 

 stated, "It is our will and pleasure that none by vertew 

 of the gnall association for fishing sail fishe betweene St. 

 Tabshead and Ridhead, or in anie place within that firth, 

 and, for Clyde, That none fishe between the Mules of 

 Gallouay and Kintyre, or in anie place within the same 

 except the natives, according to the ancient custome." l 



At the same time the king sent to the Privy Council a 

 letter complaining of the unseasonable destruction of herring 

 fry at Ballintrae, stating that this was detrimental to the 

 fishing on the west coast and also to the fishing on the parts 

 of Ireland opposite. He asked that proclamation be sent to 

 all in authority in the district that this " unseasonable 

 fishing must cease in all time coming." With regard to 

 this matter, the Privy Council sent for Sir John Hamilton 

 of Barganie, asking him to attend by the 17th of October, 

 the meeting of Council, which had been convened to discuss 

 the charter for the fishing and the king's instructions. 2 At 

 this meeting five of the commissioners for the fishing were 

 present, who, as showing the interest the king had taken 

 in all their proceedings, reported that the king had " hon- 

 oured almost the haill meetings for this treatie with his 

 royall presence." 3 



The Privy Council, after hearing the statement of the 

 commissioners, entirely approved of all that had been done, 

 and were evidently of opinion that the king, in reserving 

 for the native fishermen so much of the fishing round 

 the coast, as he had indicated in his last letter, was acting 

 very generously towards them. The burghs, however, 



1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 245 ; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. 

 (2nd series) p. 555. 



2 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 246 ; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. 

 iv. (2nd series) pp. 541, 542. 



3 Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. (2nd series) p. 555. 



