THE HERRING FISHERIES. 9 



Great Yarmouth. It is said that our ancient fisher- 

 men supplied this " garianonum " or encampment with 

 herring. 



In 670 a tax upon the herring fishery is mentioned, and 

 this tax was commonly known as " herring silver." Another 

 reference in details is dated also with the history of Eve- 

 sham Monastery, founded in 709. We also find that an 

 annual tribute of herrings, varying from thirty thousand to 

 sixty thousand fish, was paid as rent to one Hugh de 

 Montford, of Suffolk Manors. The " free fair " of Yar- 

 mouth, or herring market, was attended by many foreign 

 fishermen,and this " free fair " lasted for forty days, ending 

 November nth. 



We have already noticed the tax paid to King Henry I., 

 and in 1209 we find King John granting a charter to Yar- 

 mouth, on condition that the burgesses provide his Majesty 

 with fifty-seven ships for forty days at their own charge, as 

 often as he should need them, for hostile occasions, and also 

 that they pay an annual fee of 5 5 to farm rent for ever. 



The Abbot of St. Albans was a large patroniser at the 

 herring market, and some idea may be gathered from the 

 fact that his agents employed "seven stout and handsome 

 horses" in carting his herrings for storage. These latter 

 he sold over again at a profit, after the free fair was 

 over. 



Passing by many interesting records, we find that the 

 prefix " Great " was added to Yarmouth in the reign of 

 Henry III. ; and a noble provision in Magna Charta 

 enacted that " all merchants may with security and safety 

 go out of England, and come into England, and stay and 

 pass through England, by land and water, to buy and to 

 sell, without any evil tolls, paying the ancient and rightful 

 dues, except in time of war." 



