306 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



of the Lewis fisheries would reach, in one year, a sum 

 of 18,270. 



The King stated his intention of inaugurating local 

 societies in the chief cities or burghs of every district in 

 England, the supreme direction to be in the hands of a 

 central Corporation. A similar course, it was suggested, 

 should be followed in Scotland, each district contributing 

 its share of the expenses, and receiving its share of the 

 profits. Captain Mason was employed by Charles to treat 

 with the Lords of Council in Scotland, and lay his instruc- 

 tions before them. 



The chief hope of Charles lay in the Hebrides, and 

 especially in Lewis, where the fishing was to be carried on 

 all the year round. One Captain John Dymes visited 

 Lewis, and was commissioned to draw up a report on the 

 island, with special reference to the fishings, and to the 

 most suitable places for the erection of one or more free 

 burghs, and the establishment of a market for traffic. The 

 result of these preliminary arrangements appears in the 

 King's instructions about the island, as follow : 



" And becaus the Lewes is the most proper seate for a 

 continuall fishing along the Westerne Coasts, yow ar to 

 lett the lords know that we are resolved to take it into our 

 awin hand as adherent to our Crowne, yitt purposing to 

 give suche satisfactioun to the Erie of Seafort as sail be 

 honnourable and just. To whilk end, the lords sail 

 demaund the said Erie ane trew particular of the rents he 

 receaves there, and certifie us how they may be main- 

 teanned and made good from tyme to tyme. It is also 

 our purpose, as yow must accquaint the lords, to erect 

 in that ylland one or moe free burrowes, in suche places 

 as sail be fittest for advancing of the fishing and for 

 magazens and stages."* 



On 3Oth July, the King's instructions were read to the 

 Scottish Privy Council, at a meeting held in the Lord 



* Acts of Par/., Vol. V., pp. 220-3. 



