OF ALL COUNTRIES. 489 



According to these laws, if any man happen to find in the 

 sea or sea-shore precious stones, fishes, or the like, of which 

 no man was ever a proprietor, it becomes his own ; but as 

 to great (or Royal) fishes that are found on the sea-shore, 

 regard must be had to the customs of the country where 

 such fishes are found and taken. For the lord of the country 

 ought to have his share. So a master that has hired seamen 

 for voyage, is to keep the peace and to act the part of judge 

 at sea. If the master himself gives the lie he shall pay 

 8 deniers. If any of the mariners gives the master the lie, 

 8 deniers. If the master strike any of his mariners, he 

 ought to bear with the first stroke whether it be with the 

 fist or open hand. But if the master strike more than once, 

 the mariner may defend himself. If any of the hired 

 mariners strike the master first, he shall pay an hundred 

 sous or lose his hand. 



And again, if two vessels go a fishing in partnership, as 

 for mackerel, herrings, or the like, and set nets and lay 

 their lines for the purpose, the one of the vessels ought to 

 employ as many fishing engines as the others, and so they 

 shall divide the profit equally according to the covenant 

 made between them. And if one perish, relations and 

 heirs may require to have their part of the gain, and like- 

 wise of fish and fishing instruments upon the oaths of those 

 escaped. But they are to have nothing of the vessel 

 if it survive. All these regulations seem to be dictated 

 by justice and common sense. Of a similar stamp were 

 the laws of Wisby in Gothland, in use with the Great 

 International Confederation of the Hanseatic League. 



About the middle of the fourteenth century the right of 

 fishing upon our coasts was secured to the Spaniards by 

 special treaty, and two hundred years afterwards a like 

 privilege was granted as to the north coast of Ireland to 



