8 THE FISHING INDUSTRY 



The conditions upon which the bounty was to be paid 

 were fully set forth in a later act in 1750 (George II). 

 The construction of herring vessels was encouraged by 

 a bounty of 30s. per ton, paid out of the Customs, for 

 decked fishing vessels of from twenty to eighty tons. 



The time and place of fishing were stipulated, as well 

 as rules for the proper management and prosecution of 

 the fishery. Each vessel was to have on board twelve 

 Winchester bushels of salt for every last of fish such 

 vessel was capable of holding, the salt to be contained 

 in new barrels. 



In 1757, the bounty was increased to 50s. per ton, but 

 was reduced to 30s. again in 1771. It was further 

 reduced to 20s. in 1787, and an additional bounty of 

 4s. per barrel added. This was made proportional to 

 the tonnage, so that no vessel could claim more than 

 30s. per ton unless the vessel caught over three barrels 

 per ton, in which case a bounty of Is. per barrel was 

 granted upon the surplus quantity. 



While the bounty often undoubtedly encouraged the 

 development of the fishery, the development was not so 

 rapid or so extensive as it would otherwise have been, 

 owing to the duty on imported salt. The weight of the 

 duty was such that the fishermen threw fish overboard 

 rather than cure it, only landing that which could be 

 brought in fresh. 



In 1808 the bounty was raised to 3 per ton on every 

 British built and British owned fishing boat of not less 

 than sixty tons burden, properly manned, registered, 

 and navigated and employed in herring fishing. The 

 maximum tonnage on which the bounty was payable 

 was one hundred tons. Two shillings per barrel was 

 paid on properly cured and packed herrings. 



After the peace of 1815, the naval wars and the 

 press gangs had reduced the sea fisheries to negligible 



