THE ENGLISH FISHING SETTLEMENTS. 305 



merchants who were anxious to obtain a footing in Lewis, 

 agreed with Seaforth that if he succeeded in obtaining a 

 charter for Stornoway, they would be willing to form 

 a settlement there, with the view of developing the fishing 

 and other resources of the island.* In 1628, in pursuance, 

 doubtless, of this understanding, Dutch busses re-appeared 

 on the coast of Lewis, and their success was marked. In 

 less than three months, four of them made a clear profit of 

 ^7,500. The master of one of these busses stated that 

 there was fish enough for a thousand busses. .And yet the 

 local boats numbered only a dozen all told."!" It is not, 

 therefore, surprising that Seaforth was so anxious to obtain 

 trading privileges for Stornoway. 



It will be seen that there was plenty of scope for a 

 purely British Corporation, to work the valuable fisheries of 

 the kingdom. The King resolved upon the formation 

 of such a Corporation, not merely to prosecute so lucrative 

 a calling, but to quote his own words to serve as 

 " a nurserie of seamen and to increasse the shipping and 

 trade in all parts of our dominiouns." In 1630, the articles 

 of the proposed Corporation were drawn up, and in July of 

 that year, the King's intentions in the matter were made 

 public. Sir William Alexander delivered to the Estates a 

 letter from Charles, setting forth his views in respect of the 

 Scottish fisheries. A beginning was to be made with an 

 addition of 200 vessels of thirty and fifty tons each, to the 

 existing fleet, at a cost of 120 per vessel, the crew to 

 consist of sixteen men and boys, whose wages were to 

 be at the rate of 135. 4d. per month. The net profits for 

 the year, after deducting the cost of construction, equip- 

 ment, wages, stores, &c., were estimated at rather more 

 than 827 per vessel. Lewis was to be established as 

 the seat of a continual fishing along the west coast of 

 Scotland, and Secretary Coke estimated that the profits 



* It was supposed by some that Seaforth sold Stornoway to the Dutchmen, 

 and then tried for a charter to cover his action. There is, however, nothing 

 to justify belief in this assumption. 



t MS. in Public Record Office (Captain Dymes's Report}. See 

 Appendix F. 



