Trade to Newfoundland Act 1698

IV. What Person is to be Admiral of the Harbour during the Season, who may take such Beech or Flakes as may be needful.

What Person is to be Vice Admiral; and Rear Admiral; Masters of Fishing Ships to content themselves with such Beech and Flakes as shall be necessary; Persons having more Places than one, to elect; and send his Election to the next After-comer, demanding the same. In case of Difference, Two of the Admirals may determine the same.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That (according to the ancient Custom there used) every such Fishing Ship from England Wales or Berwick or such Fishermen as shall from and after the said Twenty fifth Day of March first enter any Harbour or Creeke in Newfoundland in behalfe of his Ship shall be Admirall of the said Harbour or Creeke during that Fishing Season and for that time shall reserve to himselfe only so much Beech or Flakes or both as are needfull for the Number of such Boats as he shall there use with an Overplus only for the Use of One Boat more than he needs as a Priviledge for his first comeing thither And that the Master of every such Second Fishing Ship as shall enter any such Harbour or Creeke shall be Vice-Admirall of such Harbour or Creeke during that Fishing Season And that the Master of every such Fishing Ship next comeing as shall enter any such Harbour or Creek shall be Rear-Admirall of such Harbour or Creeke during that Fishing Season And that the Master of every Fishing Ship there shall content himselfe with such Beech or Flakes as he shall have necessary Use for without keeping or detaining any more Beech or Flakes to the Prejudice of any such other Ship or Vessell as shall arrive there And that such Person or Persons as are possessed of severall Places in severall Harbours or Creeks there shall make his or their Election of such Place as he or they shall choose to abide in And shall also within Eight and forty Houres after any After-commer or After-commers into such Place or Places shall demand such his or their Resolution touching such his or their Election (if the Weather will so soon permit or so soon after as the Weather will permit) give or send his or their Resolution to such After-commer or After-commers touching such his or their Election of such Place as he or they shall so choose to abide in for the Fishing Season to the end that such After-commer or After-commers may likewise choose his or their Place or Places of his or their Aboad there And in case any Difference shall arise touching the said Matters the Admiralls of the respective Harbours where such Differences shall arise or any Two of them shall proportion the Place to the severall Ships in the severall Harbours they fish in according to the Number of Boats which each of the said Ships shall keep