FISHERIES AND THEIR PRODUCE. 29 



of the Scottish fisheries, but with only partial 

 success. 



In 1633, Charles i. ordained an association 

 of the three kingdoms, governed by a standing 

 committee, and for the better encouragement of 

 the adventure enjoined the strict observation of 

 Lent an impolitic step, which the breaking 

 out of the civil war interrupted. During the 

 Protectorate little was done, excepting a remis- 

 sion of salt duties, and excise duties on naval 

 necessaries, in favour of private parties engaged 

 in the fisheries ; but Charles n. appointed, in 

 1677, a council of royal fishery, in order to the 

 establishment of laws and regulations ; and for 

 the encouragement of those engaged in this 

 branch of commerce " a lottery was granted 

 for three years, a collection was made in 

 churches, and an exemption granted for seven 

 years from customs, both inwards and outwards, 

 on the sale of fish exported to the Baltic, Den- 

 mark, Norway, France, and some other coun- 

 tries. Besides this, all victuallers and coffee- 

 house keepers were compelled each to take a 

 certain number of barrels of herrings yearly, at 

 305. per barrel, until a foreign market could be 

 established to the satisfaction of the council. 

 Beyond these encouragements, a duty of 2s. 6d. 

 was imposed upon foreign herrings imported, 



