CHAPTER III. 
CHARLES I.: THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING. 
IT was on account of the known aversion of the Scotch 
burghers and traders to any scheme for a national fishery 
which allowed others to participate in benefits which they 
considered peculiarly their own, that Charles, whose mind 
was absolutely fixed upon the establishment of this associa- 
tion, was at considerable pains to draw up, for the informa- 
tion of the Scottish Estates and the Privy Council, a lengthy 
statement embodying his views upon the subject. In July, 
1630, Sir William Alexander, Secretary for Scotland, received 
instructions to communicate to the various governing bodies 
of Scotland, the king’s wishes concerning the national 
fishery. 
A letter was sent at the same time to the Privy Council 
and Estates, in which the king commended the question to 
them as one worthy of their attention, and stated clearly 
the end he had in view in inaugurating this scheme—“ To 
the end we may at lenth injoy with more honnour these 
rights whiche properlie belong to our imperiall crowne and 
ar usurped by strangers, we have considered of a way which 
in tyme by gods favour may produce this good effect and 
also increase our navigation and trade. And becaus this 
work concerneth equallie all our three Kingdomes and must 
thairfoir be undertakin and ordered by commoun counsell 
and assistance, We have takin this opportunitie of your 
conventioun at Edinborrow to send our instructiouns to Sir 
