110 CHARLES II. 
ended when some of those many Englishmen who were 
still of opinion that the fishing was an industry worthy of 
national support, were endeavouring to rouse public interest 
in their scheme. In a short time they had enlisted the 
sympathy of a sufficient number of people to form another 
company, and in March, 1676, the scheme took practical 
shape. The Earls of Suffolk, Scarsdale, and Carlisle, with 
some others, represented to the king that they had raised 
a common stock with a view to engaging in the fishing 
industry, and petitioned that they should be given letters 
patent incorporating them as a company. They further 
asked that the proposed company should be granted certain 
privileges, prominent among these being an allowance 
out of the Customs of £20 per annum for seven years for every 
ship to be employed, and of £50 per annum for the main- 
tenance of an orthodox minister for ever, at the place 
where the company should settle the fishery. In addition 
to this, they asked that they should be allowed to land 
their fish without paying duty, and that they might be 
‘granted the moneys formerly collected for the Royal Fishery 
by virtue of the Commission of 22nd August, 1661. They 
asked also that all foreigners becoming employees of the 
company for seven years should be naturalised, and that all 
foreign-built vessels belonging to the company should be 
recognised as being English ships to all intents and purposes.! 
These proposals were placed before the Commissioners of 
Customs for their approval; the king, however, did not 
wait for their report, but, in May, 1676, granted a warrant 
for a charter of incorporation of the Company of the Royal 
Fishery of England.? 
1Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 379, No. 87, I. 
2 Ibid. vol. 382, No. 39. 
Warrant, May, 1676. 
Our will and pleasure is that you prepare a Bill fitt for Our Royall signa- 
ture to passe our great seale of England, containing our Charter and Grant 
of Incorporation unto the Adventurers and Undertakers of the fishing 
