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 CHAPTER VII. CHARLES I.--_continued._ THE NAVY.