THE FISHERIES 63 



was also adopted in the reign of Charles I. Thus, in 1482, 

 Edward IV. invested certain persons, called Guardians, Con- 

 ductors, and \Vafters, with naval powers, to protect the fisher- 

 men "of whatever country they be, who shall desire to fish 

 under the protection " of the said wardens on the coasts of 

 Norfolk and Suffolk : and all those who took advantage of such 

 protection had to pay an equal share of the cost of it ; any 

 other persons pretending to have power to protect the fisher- 

 men were to be apprehended. This arrangement was repeated 

 in the reigns of Richard III. and Henry VII. 1 It is evident 

 that the payment was only exigible from such foreign fisher- 

 men as took advantage of the protection offered to them ; those 

 who desired to fish without protection of the wardens were at 

 liberty to do so. A more pertinent case is the Act of the Irish 

 Parliament in 1465 also during the reign of Edward IV. 

 which has been previously alluded to. 2 It was passed to pre- 

 vent aid being given to the king's enemies by foreign vessels 

 that went to fish at Ireland. All foreign fishing vessels were 

 prohibited from fishing on the Irish coast (except the north 

 part of Wicklow) without first obtaining a license from the 

 Lieutenant, his deputy, a "justice of the land," or other person 

 authorised to grant it, upon pain of forfeiture of ship and 

 goods. All foreign vessels allowed to fish, which were of 

 twelve tons burthen "or less," and had a "drover" or boat, 

 were to pay thirteen shillings and fourpence yearly for the 

 maintenance of the king's wars in Ireland ; smaller vessels, 

 as "scarfes" or boats not having "drover nor lighter," and 

 within the burthen of twelve tons, were to pay two shillings. 

 This was obviously a temporary measure, designed for a special 

 purpose, though clearly imposing a tax on foreign vessels ; but 

 there is not evidence to show whether it was enforced. 



Other two instances referring to later times were adduced 

 in support of the contention that the sea fisheries belonged to 

 England, and they may be mentioned here. One was the state- 



1 Rot. Pat., 22 Edw. IV., m. 2 ; ibid., 2 Ric. III., i. m. 8 ; ibid., 8 Hen. VII., 

 part ii. dorto ; Mare L'lnvtum, lib. ii. xxi. 



a The Statute* at Large patted in the Parliament* held in Ireland, i. 30. 

 5 Edw. IV., c. vi. "An Act that no Ship or other Vessel of any Foreign Country 

 shall go to the Fishing in the Irish Countries, and for Custom to be paid of the 

 Vessel that cometh from Foreign I>ands to Fishing." 



