192 HISTORY OF SEA-FISHERIES. 



were chiefly proprietors of estates, and their object 

 was the improvement of their property. No divi- 

 dend has yet been made upon the money expended 

 by the corporation ; but it is expected that the 

 lands taken for the harbours, stores, and other 

 buildings which they had constructed, may possi- 

 bly yield a return in rent one of these odd days. 

 Another act was passed in 1808 for the regulation 

 of the fisheries. The bounty was again raised to 

 60s. per ton on decked vessels of not less than 

 sixty tons burthen, with an additional bounty 

 of 20s. per ton for the first thirty vessels 

 entered in the first year. Premiums amounting 

 to 30,000 were also given for boats of not less 

 than fifteen tons burthen. This act prescribed 

 regulations for fishing, curing, inspecting, and 

 branding herrings, and a board of seven commis- 

 sioners was appointed for administering the law. 

 This act, which was at first passed for a limited 

 time, was made perpetual in 1815 (55 Geo. Ill, 

 c. 94). The tonnage bounty had in the mean 

 time been extended to fishing vessels of not less 

 than forty-five tons burthen. During the year 

 1814, only five vessels had been fitted out for 

 the fishery from Yarmouth, and not one for the 



