74 THE HERRING IN HISTORY 



they should be 120, five in each pie ; many of them 

 broken in carriage, etc. The corporation being now 

 lords of the manor of East Carlton, the pies are sent 

 up by the sheriffs of the city annually, and placed 

 on the king's table." 



We do not hear of subsequent complaints 

 as to their quality. 



Yarmouth was the staple market for the 

 export of herring, and the principal seat of the 

 herring industry during the reign of King 

 John, and William of Trumpington, Abbot of 

 St. Albans, bought a house at Yarmouth for 

 fifty marks in which to store herrings preserved 

 with salt, for the use of his abbey. 



After this digression we may return to the 

 herring in history. 



A ship fitted out at Yarmouth in 1290 for 

 bringing the infant Queen of Scotland from the 

 Court of her father, the Duke of Normandy, 

 was provisioned with : — 



200 Stock fish, 

 One small barrel of sturgeon, 

 One dozen lampreys. 

 Fifty pounds of whale. 

 Half a last of herrings, 

 400 fish of Aberdeen. 



The " fish of Aberdeen " cost under threepence 

 each, the stock fish somewhat under one penny 

 each, and the half last of herrings thirty shillings. 

 The term " Aberdeen fish " also occurs in the 

 account of King Edward's wardrobe in the year 

 1290. Were they cod, ling, hake or haddock ? 



