92 CHAELES II. 



food and intertainment of the leidges, to the proffite and 

 encouragement of many poor families who hve by fishing." 

 Exemption could be had only by procuring a special license 

 from the Privj^ Council. ^ This proclamation was again made 

 on 12th February, 1663, and on 2nd February, 1664.2 



In accordance with the act estabh'shing them, various 

 fishing companies were formed throughout the country, 

 but it was soon found that the old difficulties existed. Thus 

 in 1661, even before the companies had been estabhshed, 

 Gideon Murraj^ a merchant in Edinburgh, who had got 

 ready two busses for the fishing at Shetland "for fishing and 

 prepareing of whyt and gray fishes," complained of the 

 " hambm*ghers and lubickers," who were accustomed to 

 engage all the available fishermen in the islands along with 

 their boats. In answer to his request, it was declared that 

 he was to be served in preference to the foreigners, in all 

 respects, by the Shetlanders, and was to be allowed to 

 buy their fish at the ordinary rates until his busses were 

 loaded. Similar privileges were granted in the same year to 

 the inhabitants of various fishmg towns and villages in 

 Fifeshire.^ 



In 1662, John Boswell, baihe in Ivinghorn, and Matthew 

 Anderson, baihe in Kirkcaldie, made supphcation to the Privy 



^ License to Sir Robert Hepbume of Keith and liis family to eat flesh in 

 Lent, dated 12th February, 1663. 



*' The Lords of his Majesties Privy Council haveing considered the desire 

 of the petition of Sir Robert Hepbume of Keith for haveing a license to eat 

 flesh the tyme of Lent, and upon the thrie weekly fish dayes mentioned in 

 the late proclamation, by these presents dispenses with and gives license 

 to the said Sir Robert and these of his family to eat flesh dureing the said 

 prohibite tj.'me, and upon the saids forbidden dayes, for the space of ane 

 year efter the dait hereof, and declaires that the said Sir Robert shall no 

 wayes be lyable to any of the paines containit in the said proclamation, 

 and discharges all magistrates to proceid against the said Sir Robert as 

 contraveiner thereof, for which these presents shall be a warrand." — Reg. 

 Privy Council, Scotland, vol. i. (3rd series) p. 660. 



■^Ibid. pp. 153, 331, 491, 676. 



'■^ Act. Pari. Scotland, vol. vii. pp. 64, 81. 



