FISHINGS OFF THE COAST OF BRITAIN 27 



The herring fishing off the coasts of Britain was, during 

 the reign of Charles I., mainly in the hands of the Dutch 

 fishermen, who obeyed the rules of the Dutch Fishery College, 

 as they had done in the past ; the Dutch vessels fished 

 chiefly off the Lewis and on the east coast of England and 

 Scotland. On the west coast of Scotland the fishing was 

 to a very great extent in the hands of the native fishermen, 

 and thus was not subject to the rules of the Dutch Fishery 

 College, which fixed the 24th of June as the date for the 

 first lowering of nets. 



On the west coast the fishing began about the first of 

 July and continued till about the 25th of October. In the 

 fishing were engaged about eight hundred " Slayeing boats " 

 of between five and six tons each. This number increased 

 as the season proceeded, " so that sometymes they will 

 extend to the number of 1500 fishing boats, and that over 

 200 Cowper boats about 12 Tun apiece, qch buyes the her- 

 ring and transportes them from the places where they are 

 taken to the burghs where they are sold for the use of the 

 country." J From February to May, about 120 of the 

 largest of the boats, engaged at the mouth of the Clyde in 

 " ane codling fishing." It was estimated that some 6000 

 men were employed in this west coast fishing. 2 



The most careless observer could not fail to ask why 

 this Scotch west coast fishery employed vessels so much 

 smaller and so much less numerous than those of the Dutch 

 on the east coast. In answer to this, it was explained by 

 the contemporary Scotch writer already quoted that there 

 could not possibly be a " bush " fishing on the west coast, 

 nor could more vessels conveniently be employed, " in respect 

 of the deepness and narrowness of the Lochs, and want 

 of Harbours for resett of vessels of greater burden." Ob- 



1 MSS., about 1630, 32.1.16, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. 

 2 MSS. 32.1.16, Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. "Memorandum con- 

 cerning the fishing along the coast of England, Cornwall, etc." 



