

FISHERMEN AND FISHERIES. 155 



the fishers be come into the haven with their herring, and 

 that the cable of the ship be drawn to the land." 



This Act was not new in principle, since a general 

 statute (25 Edw. III. Stat. 4, c. 3) already existed, im- 

 posing pains and penalties on " the forestallers of wines state regula- 

 and all other victuals, wares, and merchandise that come to 

 the good towns of England by land or by water." It 

 merely applied a recognised principle with exceptional 

 distinctness to a particular industry, and with especial 

 reference to a particular locality. The measure was, no 

 doubt, justified by the peculiar circumstances of the time, 

 when it was in the power of a few powerful nobles to 

 monopolise the trade of the country and make their own 

 terms with the " people." The provisions against " fore- 

 stallers," indeed, increased in severity in succeeding reigns, 

 and formed part of the law of the land until they were 

 swept away by 7 & 8 Viet. c. 34, in 1844. 



The Act of 31 Edw. III. was followed by another with 

 still more stringent provisions for keeping down the price 

 of fish, and for breaking down the operations of what would 

 be called in America, at the present day, the herring 

 " corner." Among other things it was provided that " no 

 vessel called pyker of London, nor of none other place," 

 should enter the haven " to enhance the fair in damage of 

 the people," although these pykers were allowed to " freely 

 buy fresh herring in Kyrkly and elsewhere upon the coasts 

 of the sea, without impeachment or disturbance of the 

 hostelers of Yarmouth or of any other." It was further 

 enacted that the fishers should " be free to sell their herring 

 to all that come to the fair of Great Yarmouth without any 

 disturbance of their hostelers or any other ; " that the 

 fishermen should sell their " merchandises openly," and in 

 " the presence of other merchants ; " that all sales of fish 



