THE ROYAL FISHERY 113 



other commodities. The freedom from customs dues 

 originally granted was withdrawn, but as a compensation 

 for this, the company was to be allowed 200 for every 

 dogger built for it. 



For the first seven years of its existence, the company 

 was to receive an annual subsidy of 20 for every vessel 

 actually employed in fishing. This sum was to be paid 

 every quarter to the treasurer of the company in London. 

 Fifty pounds was also to be allowed annually for the main- 

 tenance of an orthodox minister. All employees of the 

 company were to be exempt from the operations of the press 

 gang and were not to be compelled to serve as jurymen, 

 or to accept any other office, civil or military. The com- 

 pany was also granted all moneys previously collected 

 for the national fishery, and was promised adequate convoy 

 for its vessels in time of war. Finally, the commission 

 granted to the former company for the fishing was revoked. 1 



With privileges, therefore, which were far in excess of 

 those granted to any of its predecessors, the company was 

 established, its capital according to the writer of A Col- 

 lection concerning the Royal Fishery, 2 being 10,980, 

 to which was shortly afterwards added 1,600. Given 

 favourable circumstances, therefore, combined with reason- 

 ably careful management, this company would have suc- 

 ceeded in doing all that its promoters hoped ; but some 

 unkind destiny seemed still to thwart the well-meant 

 endeavours of any who sought to develop British fisheries. 

 The times were not yet propitious for the enterprise. Europe 

 was now aroused to the menace arising from the ambitious 

 designs of Louis XIV. ; the Grand Alliance had been 

 formed ; a naval war was raging in which the combined 

 fleets of Holland and Spain confronted that of France. 

 Unfortunately, a great many of the vessels of the fishing 



*Cal. S,P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 391, Nos. 63 and 63.1. 



2 A Collection, with some observations concerning the Royal Fishery, 1696. 



