THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING 47 
within the lochs, isles and upon the coasts, but ye nation is 
provided, and may be provided of oyr sufficient vessels for 
fishing within all those bounds. 
“ 5thly, If any stranger should resort to ye lochs and Isles, 
they should not only harm and hurt us of the fishing, but 
likeways should buy up all ye commodities of ye land whatsor, 
both in Isles and mainland adjacent yrto, so that the natives 
should be wholly debarred therefrae. 
* 6thly, If any strangers should be permitted to fish in our 
liberties, these would not only prejudge us but the haill 
countrie, for when ye fish ar taken by the natives, they are 
brought home to ye countrie and the countrie served by 
them, whereas strangers would carry the same away, and 
ye countrie people would receive no benefite. 
“ 7thly, If the English and we were agreed to fish togither, 
it would prejudice the countrie, by reason when we have 
gotten fish as they have gotten, we bring home our fish to 
ye countrie, and when we transport our fish out of the coun- 
trie to any land or any oyr part else we must pay the king’s 
custom and bullion, as likeways we must pay it in England, 
so we pay twice customes and bullion qras the English 
pays none, so that they may sell their commoditie a 
great deal cheaper, which will redound to our great 
hurt. 
* 8thly, Albeit it be by his Majesty’s will to have all his 
fishings common to his leidges, it is answered it is no reason 
that the English should be partakers of our commodities 
be reason they cannot do the like benefite to us, but only 
that is common both to the ffrench and fflemings.” 
The king, however, although he must have been well 
aware that his scheme was evoking no great enthusiasm in 
Scotland, was determined to carry it out, and in September, 
1632, ‘‘ after long tyme and manie meetings between the 
commissioners of both our kingdomes for a generall associa- 
tion for the fishing, whereat we our selffe for the most part 
