Chapter V

JAMES I.--_continued_. DISPUTES WITH THE DUTCH.

Grant of “assize-herrings” in Scotland to Duke of Lennox--Considered
by Scottish Council--James instructs that the tax be levied from
foreign fishermen--Mr John Brown collects them in 1616 from
Dutch--Protest by Dutch ambassador--Dutch naval commanders ordered
to prevent further payments--Brown again sent in 1617--Seized
and carried to Holland by Dutch man-of-war--Repudiation of
act by States-General--Further complaints in Scotland against
Dutch--Representations by British ambassador at Hague--“Land-kenning”
or range of vision claimed as limit--Scottish Council asked to
prevent Hollanders from fishing within sight of land--Dutch edict of
1618--Assize-herrings again demanded by the _Restore--Mare Clausum_
in the Arctic Seas--Spitzbergen whaling disputes--Dutch embassy of
1618--Evasion of fishery question--James’s displeasure--Threats
to use force--Fishery treaty again postponed--A limit of fourteen
miles requested--Dutch concession--Proposals regarding whaling at
Spitzbergen--Assize-herrings again demanded by the _Charles_--The
Dutch strengthen their convoying squadrons--Dutch embassies of 1619
and 1621--Fishery question still evaded--Edict of 1618 renewed--Fresh
complaints against Hollanders--Fishery societies proposed--The
striking of the flag--Incident with French in 1603--Monson’s action
against Dutch--Spanish complaint--The custom as to striking the flag 165

CHAPTER VI.

CHARLES I. FISHERIES AND RESERVED WATERS.

Extravagant pretensions to the sovereignty of the sea--The ship-money
writs and the old records--Charles proposes a great fishery society
to compete with the Dutch--Coke prepares a scheme--Difficulties
with Scottish burghs--Charles requests Scottish Privy Council to
further the scheme--Strenuous opposition in Scotland--Claim of
“reserved waters” advanced--Commissioners on behalf of England and
Scotland appointed--Prolonged negotiations--Extent of reserved waters
defined--Modifications proposed--Burghs petition Charles to prevent
the Hollanders from fishing in Scottish waters--Fisheries declared
to be under the royal prerogative--Charles attends the conferences
of the commissioners--Scheme finally agreed to--The “Royal Fishery
of Great Britain and Ireland” established--Operations at the
Lewes--Misfortunes and eventual failure of the society 209