ITS WORK IN THE LEWIS 59 



managers of the Association that the Dutchmen, totally 

 disregarding royal proclamations against them, were fishing 

 and trading as usual in the Western Islands, and that in this 

 they were being encouraged by the landlords and heritors of 

 the district, who were, in addition, hampering very seriously 

 the work of the company by demanding exorbitant dues from 

 the masters of its ships. In response to these complaints, the 

 Privy Council granted Archibald, Lord of Lome, the Great 

 Marquis, and Neil, Bishop of the Isles, a commission to 

 enquire into the matter, so that the landlords concerning 

 whom the complaint was made might make some working 

 agreement with the Association. A meeting was accordingly 

 convened at Inveraray on 29th August, 1634, at which the 

 various landlords answered to the questions of the commis- 

 sioners that it was " an ancient custom, and in use to be done 

 past memorie of man," for every one of them "in whois bounds 

 the herring fishing fell out," to exact " satisfactioun for 

 ground leave and ankerage." For many years past they had 

 taken from every herring boat or ship resorting to their 

 coasts a barrel either of meal or of ale as the owner pleased ; 

 for every anchor laid on shore six shillings and eightpence was 

 charged ; for every last of herring taken they exacted three 

 pounds money ; in addition to this they were given the whole 

 proceeds of every Saturday's fishing. This ancient custom 

 had been formally ratified by a contract between certain of the 

 islands and some east coast burghs, made about the year 

 1620. The landlords, however, claimed that their demands 

 had been greatly modified in favour of the Association, 

 as they now charged only thirty-six shillings Scottish 

 money to a ship engaged in the herring fishing, and twenty 

 marks to a ship engaged in the " gray and whyte " fishing. 



When interrogated concerning dealings with foreigners, 

 the islanders all declared that they had had no dealings 

 with foreigners since the formation of the Association, 

 except for a Dutch ship, which came to Lochmadie to the 



