THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING 41 
the English commissioners, on the subject of the general 
association for the fishings. The Scotch commissioners were, 
The Earl of Menteith, President, The Earl of Morton, Trea- 
surer, The Marquis of Hamilton, The Earl of Roxburgh, The 
Earl of Carrick, Sir William Alexander, Secretary, Mr. John 
Hay, and Mr. George Fletcher. These or any five of them 
were given absolute power to conclude upon all matters 
concerning the intended association. 
The instructions given to these commissioners are inter- 
esting as showing the views held at the time upon fishing 
rights. After some general directions anent guarding the 
interests of Scotland, the commissioners were asked to declare 
“that the seas foreanent the coasts of this kingdom and 
about the yles thairof, and all that is interjected betuix 
thame and that midlyne in the seas whilk is equallie distant 
and divyding frome the opposite land, ar the Scotish seas, 
properlie belonging to the crowne of Scotland, and that the 
English hes no right nor libertie to fishe thairin, nor in no 
part thairof, bot be vertew of the associatioun and not other- 
wayes.” 
Again, they were to reserve the fishing ‘“‘ within the loches, 
firthes, and bayes, within the mayne land and yles of this 
kingdome, and, in the seas, within fourteen myles of the 
coasts of the said mayne lands and yllands.” 
They were to be careful that the English and Irish got 
no privilege in Scotland, which the Scotch were not allowed 
in England and Ireland. Further, the king was to be asked 
to style himself in all documents ‘“‘ King of England, Scot- 
land, France and Ireland,”’ so that Scotland might no longer 
be confounded “‘ under the name of Great Britane, altho 
there be no unioun as yitt with England nor the style of 
Great Britane receaved there.” ? 
1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 230. 
2 Ibid. vol v. pp. 232-3; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. (2nd 
series) p. 57. 
