SCOTTISH FISHERIES 87 



Continuing the history of the Scottish fisheries 

 down to the Union, we find that in 1488, an 

 Act was passed forbidding strangers to buy 

 fish, whether salted or barrelled, except at 

 certain towns where they were to pay duty, 

 and prohibiting them from trading at the 

 " Leuvis " (Lewis Islands). 



In 1491 the Act of 1474 was confirmed by 

 James IV., and it was enacted that no ship 

 under 20 tons burthen should go to the herring 

 fisheries. 



In 1532 the Scots attacked the Dutch 

 herring fisheries, and Robert Fogo of Leith, 

 with several vessels of war, captured many 

 herring busses upon the Dutch coast, whereupon 

 the property of the Scottish merchants in the 

 Low Countries was seized, and it was not till 

 a treaty was signed between Charles V. and 

 King James of Scotland in 1541, at the pro- 

 posal of Mary, Queen Dowager of Hungary, 

 that peace was concluded. During those nine 

 years the Dutch were prevented from fishing 

 on the Scottish coasts, and much damage was 

 done to both sides. 



The number of herring caught being insuffi- 

 cient to meet the demands of the home and 

 export trades, an Act of Parliament was passed 

 in 1540 limiting the manner and hours of sale, 

 and providing that Scottish needs should be 

 supplied before any herring were sold for export. 

 The price was fixed by the Provost, Aldermen 

 and Magistrates of the towns in which there 



