THE ROYAL FISHERY 113 
other commodities. The freedom from customs dues 
originally granted was withdrawn, but as a compensation 
for this, the company was to be allowed £200 for every 
dogger built for it. 
For the first seven years of its existence, the company 
was to receive an annual subsidy of £20 for every vessel 
actually employed in fishing. This sum was to be paid 
every quarter to the treasurer of the company in London. 
Fifty pounds was also to be allowed annually for the main- 
tenance of an orthodox minister. All employees of the 
company were to be exempt from the operations of the press 
gang and were not to be compelled to serve as jurymen, 
or to accept any other office, civil or military. The com- 
pany was also granted all moneys previously collected 
for the national fishery, and was promised adequate convoy 
for its vessels in time of war. Finally, the commission 
granted to the former company for the fishing was revoked. 
With privileges, therefore, which were far in excess of 
those granted to any of its predecessors, the company was 
established, its capital according to the writer of A Col- 
lection concerning the Royal Fishery,2 being £10,980, 
to which was shortly afterwards added £1,600. Given 
favourable circumstances, therefore, combined with reason- 
ably careful management, this company would have suc- 
ceeded in doing all that its promoters hoped; but some 
unkind destiny seemed still to thwart the well-meant 
endeavours of any who sought to develop British fisheries. 
The times were not yet propitious for the enterprise. Europe 
was now aroused to the menace arising from the ambitious 
designs of Louis XIV.; the Grand Alliance had been 
formed ; a naval war was raging in which the combined 
fleets of Holland and Spain confronted that of France. 
Unfortunately, a great many of the vessels of the fishing 
1Gal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 391, Nos. 63 and 63.1. 
2A Collection, with some observations concerning the Royal Fishery, 1696. 
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