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 ii. 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 Avas 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 

 30s. 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, 



