312 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



King should, until the next meeting of the Scottish Parlia- 

 ment, construe this statute as not applying to natives of 

 England, and in the meantime, should purchase Lewis and 

 proclaim a free fishing to all his Scottish subjects, paying 

 to Seaforth the usual ground-leave to " pack and peel." 

 The efforts of the Scottish burghs to keep the Englishmen 

 out of Lewis proved unavailing, and John Hay was obliged 

 to give way as, in fact, he had been empowered to do, if 

 necessary. 



The Company of the General Fishery of Great Britain 

 and Ireland received its charter on igth July, 1632, and in 

 September of the same year, the charter was read before 

 the Privy Council of Scotland and ordered to be " exped." 

 It provided for the appointment of twelve Councillors, one 

 half of whom were to be Scottish, and the other six, English 

 or Irish. Exclusive jurisdiction in cases relating to the 

 fishings was granted to the Company, and powers were 

 given to fish herrings or " sea " fish in all British seas, 

 salmon fishing being excluded, and the loch fishings being 

 reserved for the use of the natives. Certain peculiar privi- 

 leges were conferred upon its members, which included 

 liberty of exportation, exemption from ordinary taxation, 

 and from liability to serve the Crown in other capacities, 

 in order that the fishing might suffer no interruption. 



The Corporation being now constituted, and ready to 

 commence operations, instructions were conveyed to the 

 Privy Council of Scotland to remove all strangers who 

 fished in the Isles, especially in Lewis and Shetland. 

 Attention was directed to the detriment caused by the 

 foreigners inhabiting Lewis, and fishing and trading there, 

 contrary to the laws of the country. The Council were 

 reminded of the complaint which had been made by the 

 Royal burghs against Seaforth, who had been required to 

 bring the strangers before the Lords, but had failed to 

 comply with the order. He was now to be charged to 

 obey the Council, and the foreigners were to be censured 

 for transgressing the laws by exporting forbidden goods, 

 and failing to pay the Customs duties ; and were to find 



