CHAPTER II.

THE FISHERIES.

Importance of fisheries in middle ages--Ecclesiastical fasts--A great herring fishery--Foreign fishermen frequent British coasts--The question of freedom of fishing--Licenses to French to fish in the Channel--Treaties guaranteeing liberty for foreigners to fish on the British coasts--The “Burgundy” treaties--The _Intercursus Magnus_--Practice in Scotland differed from that in England--Waters reserved for natives, and foreigners excluded--Treaties with the Netherlands--Acts of the Parliament of Scotland 57