Xll CONTENTS 



CHAPTER II. 



THE FISHERIES. 



Importance of fisheries in middle ages Ecclesiastical fasts A great 

 herring fishery Foreign fishermen frequent British coasts The 

 question of freedom of fishing Licenses to French to fish in the 

 Channel Treaties guaranteeing liberty for foreigners to fish on the 

 British coasts The " Burgundy " treaties The Intercursus Magnus 

 Practice in Scotland differed from that in England Waters 

 reserved for natives, and foreigners excluded Treaties with the 

 Netherlands Acts of the Parliament of Scotland . . 57 



CHAPTER III. 



UNDER THE TUDORS. 



Decay of English fisheries Influence of Reformation Rise of Dutch 

 fisheries The " Political Lent " Cecil's inquiries and proceedings 

 Legislation to protect the English fisheries and encourage the 

 consumption of fish First complaints against foreign fishermen on 

 English coast Hitchcock's "Pollitique Platt" His scheme of a 

 national fishery association to compete with the Dutch Proposals 

 of Dr John Dee to tax foreigners fishing on British coasts Claim 

 advanced to the sovereignty of the sea Supposed limits of British 

 seas Queen Elizabeth opposes all claims to Mare Clausum 

 Spanish and Portuguese pretensions to dominion on the great 

 oceans Negotiations with Denmark as to trading and fishing at 

 Iceland and Norway Queen Elizabeth's exposition of the principles 

 of the freedom of the seas Further legislation to promote the 

 fisheries Failure of the policy of fish-days The striking of the 

 flag ... . . . . . . .86 



CHAPTER IV. 



UNDER THE STUARTS. JAMES I. A NEW POLICY. 



Change of policy as to freedom of fishery The " King's Chambers " 

 defined and described Limited to questions of neutrality Begin- 

 ning of struggle with Dutch for commercial and maritime suprem- 

 acy Expansion of Dutch fisheries English accounts of their 

 extent John Keymer Sir Walter Raleigh Tobias Gentleman 

 The Dutch great herring fishery along British coast Its value 

 and importance English fishery trifling in comparison English 

 envy and jealousy of Dutch Rival fishery schemes proposed 

 Plan of London merchants Proposals to tax foreign fishermen 



