England's improvements in two parts : in the former is discoursed how the kingdom of England may be improved ... : in the latter is discoursed how the navigation of England may be increased and the soveraignty of the British seas more secured to the crown of England ... / by Roger Coke.

Annot.

After the Navigation which may arise from the Trade of our Manufactures, and the free Intercourse between England and Ireland, I desire Navigation in England may be encreas∣ed by the Fishing Trade, especially of the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, not only as the Fish may be more conveniently caught by such as fish from the Ports of England, if the King pleases to deny others to dry their Nets, or take in Fresh Water in any of his Dominions; but also the Freighting of Vessels with Beer and Provisions may be cheaper in the Fishery and forrein vent of Fish from the Ports of England; besides, the employment of many thousands of our poor people, would be of infinite benefit to the Lands of England, as the Fishery and forrein Trade of them should be encreased; and the Towns upon the Eastern Coast of England, which are now even desolate, would be∣come rich and populous. Moreover, it is a Scandal and dis∣honour to the Crown of England, which contains the So∣vereignty of the British Seas, that the benefits which arise from these Seas should be lost to this Nation, and established in others, to their enriching, and encrease of Navigation.

I say, this free admission of Forreigners to inhabit in Eng∣land, and in any Vessels to fish and Trade into forrein parts with Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, may encrease the Navigation of England; for thereby their Interest being planted in the Nation, it would enjoy the fruits of their Trade and Navigation. Nor do I under∣stand, how otherwise (at least at present) this Nation can hope to enjoy the Fishery upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, or the forrein Trade of it, or any part of it: For the Inhabitants upon the Eastern Coast of England are so thin, that the Towns upon it (except Great Yarmouth) are even desolate, and so poor, that they have no means to build or buy Vessels for this Trade; nor have Factors or Agents in forrein parts whereby to entertain Trade and Commerce: And also the Timber of England is so destroyed

by the niggardly Trades we now enjoy, (whereby we can do little more than consume in England the Returns of our Manufactures, and the Product of our Plantations) that it is not long possible by it to maintain these Trades; therefore less possible by it to establish the Fishing Trade, which, it may be, will require more Shipping than we now employ in all the Trades we drive in the World. Or in case we had quantities of Timber sufficient for carrying on the Fishing Trade, yet would it be of no benefit to us in this Trade: for the Fish cost nothing but the catching, and the Hull of a Vessel for the Fishing Trade or Fishery, may be built for ⅔ of what one of equal dimensions can be built in England; and those built of English Timber are so heavy, that they require ½ more Sails and Cordage to fit them up, and so more Hands to manage them; whereby it becomes impossible to the English to Fish and Trade so cheap as the Dutch and Hamburger. Nor is this Mischief (as the case stands) pos∣sible to be remedied by Vessels built of forrein Timber in Eng∣land; for by reason of the high Duties upon it, and the Ad∣vantages the Norwegians have by imposing their own Terms upon us, the English at this day pay 30 l. per Cent. more for Timber imported, than the Dutch or Hamburgers do.