THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING 51 
ultimate decision with regard to the fishings to be reserved 
for the natives. His letter, dated Oatlands, 31st July, 1632, 
stated, ‘It is our will and pleasure that none by vertew 
of the gfiall association for fishing sall fishe betweene St. 
Tabshead and Ridhead, or in anie place within that firth, 
and, for Clyde, That none fishe between the Mules of 
Gallouay and Kintyre, or in anie place within the same 
except the natives, according to the ancient custome.” ! 
At the same time the king sent to the Privy Council a 
letter complaining of the unseasonable destruction of herring 
fry at Ballintrae, stating that this was detrimental to the 
fishing on the west coast and also to the fishing on the parts 
of Ireland opposite. He asked that proclamation be sent to 
all in authority in the district that this ‘“‘ unseasonable 
fishing must cease in all time coming.” With regard to 
this matter, the Privy Council sent for Sir John Hamilton 
of Barganie, asking him to attend by the 17th of October, 
the meeting of Council, which had been convened to discuss 
the charter for the fishing and the king’s instructions.2 At 
this meeting five of the commissioners for the fishing were 
present, who, as showing the interest the king had taken 
in all their proceedings, reported that the king had “ hon- 
oured almost the haill meetings for this treatie with his 
royall presence.” 8 
The Privy Council, after hearing the statement of the 
commissioners, entirely approved of all that had been done, 
and were evidently of opinion that the king, in reserving 
for the native fishermen so much of the fishing round 
the coast, as he had indicated in his last letter, was acting 
very generously towards them. The burghs, however, 
1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 245; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. 
(2nd series) p. 555. 
2 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 246; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. 
iv. (2nd series) pp. 541, 542. 
3 Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. (2nd series) p. 555. 
