52 CHARLES I. 



less dependent upon the royal favour, and still afraid of pos- 

 sible encroachment upon their trading privileges by the 

 members of the Association for the Fishing, were by no 

 means satisfied, and now asked the Council to request the 

 king that he should extend his declaration concerning 

 the places reserved for the natives " to the seas lying betuix 

 Buchanesse and Ridhead, at the least foure or fyve myles 

 aff the coast lying betwix the saids points, as alsua to the 

 loches of Lochtarbet, Lochstornoway, Lochmade, Loch- 

 ponte, and upon the mayne of Lochbrome." 1 To this, 

 however, the Council gave a blunt refusal, alleging as their 

 chief reason for declining to ask Charles to reconsider his 

 decision that the commissioners who had been engaged 

 in settling the conditions under which the work of the 

 Association for the Fishing was to be pursued " could not 

 assist ane petitioune for recalling their awne doings." 2 



Recognising, apparently, that any further protest would 

 be in vain, and that it was the better part to accept the in- 

 evitable with a good grace, the burghs now proceeded to 

 show to what extent they would be able to co-operate with 

 the Association for the Fishery, and thus render the enter- 

 prise in reality a national one. After giving a list of the 

 places which, in their opinion, would if properly equipped 

 prove suitable fishing stations, they stated that, from the 

 towns on the north and south coast, they could " reik out 

 for the bushe fishing " some sixty vessels, of twenty tons 

 each and upwards, a number, however, " farre inferiour to 

 that whilk in preceeding yeeres went out of these bounds ; " 

 the west country, they said, could provide " aucht great 

 shippes and fifty-two boats attending the shippes." 3 



All being now definitely arranged, the Privy Council, 

 on the 20th October, 1632, made proclamation of the found- 

 ing of the Society for the Fishing, the places reserved for the 



1 Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. (2nd series) p. 551. 



2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. p. 552. 



