This competition between the fishing admirals and the justices was taken into consideration by the board of trade, who called for the opinion of _Sir Philip Yorke_, then attorney-general, and he reported, that upon a view of the commission to the justices, of Stat. 10 & 11 Will. 3. and of all the complaints, it appeared to him the whole authority granted to the fishing admirals was restrained to seeing the rules and orders contained in that act, concerning the regulation of the fishery, duly put in execution; and to the determination of differences arising between the masters of fishing boats, and the inhabitants, or any bye boat-keepers, touching the right and property of fishing-rooms, stages, flakes, &c. which was a sort of civil jurisdiction in particular cases of property; whereas the authority of justices extended only to breaches of the peace. He was therefore of opinion, that the powers granted to the justices were not inconsistent with any of the provisions of the act, and that there was no interfering between the powers given by the act to the admirals, and those by the commission to the justices[56]. The struggle between the fishing admirals and the justices was still kept up; the west country merchants, and masters of ships supporting the former, and the governor standing by the latter. This produced complaints on both sides; and no doubt, in such a contest a just cause of complaint might often be found on both sides. But the aggressors were certainly those who set themselves against the authority of the governor and justices, and who, by their conduct on this occasion, plainly shewed they wished the inhabitants and poor planters should be deprived of all protection from legal government, and should be left wholly at _their_ mercy. It was given in special charge to the succeeding governor, _Captain Clinton_, and to his successors, to make a report of what was done towards carrying into execution the new commission of the peace. In compliance with that charge, we find the governors return such accounts of the opposition of these admirals to the civil government, as are hardly to be credited but by those who have read what went before; and after that it would be tiresome and nauseous to detail any more upon the subject[57]. This contest continued for some years, till it was found that no opposition could induce his majesty’s ministers to withdraw this small portion of civil government, which had not been granted till it had been loudly called for by the necessities of the island. The fishing admirals then became as quiet, and useless as before, and contented themselves with minding their own business, in going backwards and forwards to the banks.