“These things are often done, and several of the inhabitants’ fishing voyages ruined thereby. It is common, that what is done one year, in relation to fishing rooms, is contradicted the next; so that the fishing-rooms, are not settled to this very day. Many times these _admirals_ never were in the land before, nor knew any thing of the matter; in which case some old west country master commonly takes care that the said admiral do nothing but what he pleases.—Those are the patrons that are commonly called _kings_ in that country, who sacrifice other people’s interest frequently to serve their own. The admirals are some of the first men to cut down the roofs of their stages, cook-rooms, and flakes, which paves the way for the inhabitants to follow their example, who in the winter season generally carry away all the remainder. It is certain the admirals are seldom or never at leisure to hear any complaints whatsoever, except one of their favourites is the plaintiff[36].” “The masters of ships in Newfoundland generally endeavour to force their goods upon the inhabitants, especially the poorer sort, who generally pay dearest. Say they, if he makes a good voyage, we shall be all paid; and if he does not (says every one to himself) I will be quick enough to get my payment. By this means they have a jealous eye, the one over the other. If the fishing does not prove so good as was expected, some of these matters will fall upon them, before the fishing season is half over, take away their fish before half made; another comes and takes away his train; and many times there comes a third, who has more men than they, and takes it away from the former; he that has most men is sure to have the greatest share. This is a common practice in Newfoundland. They never acquaint the admirals with this proceeding before they do it; neither do the admirals trouble themselves with it afterwards. But the consequence lies here; the planters’ men will catch no more fish, because they have no hopes of getting any wages; the planter is ruined, and all the rest of the creditors unpaid; who, if they had given him the liberty to make his fishing-voyage, might have paid them all. The merchants of England have suffered exceedingly by this unparalleled thing, there being no precedent for it in the whole Christian world. I am fully satisfied that by this thing, and the multiplicity of liquors imported into Newfoundland yearly, the trade thereof has suffered more, than by the French plundering it so often in the late wars.” “It is most certain that the admirals in Newfoundland have _never_ taken any care about the good of that trade; and their reasons generally given for it are, that they come to Newfoundland to mind their owner’s business; and as nothing was allowed them for defraying the charges of keeping courts, they could not do it[37].”