142 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING- FISHERY, 



of the realme withoutten custome, it is ordained and de- 

 creeted, &c., that there be paid to the king for custome 

 of ilke thousand of fresche herringe sauld, of the sellar, 

 one penny, and of ilke last of herringe barrelled foure 

 shillings ; and of ilke thousand red herringe made in the 

 realme, foure pennies."* 



In 1429 the fishing was carried on to a large extent, 

 and the Scottish fishermen caught great quantities at the 

 mouths of the Dee, Tay, Forth, Tweed, &c., which they 

 principally sold to the Dutch and other foreigners."t 



The following quaint remarks occur in an ancient 

 historian : Speaking of Scotland, " France, Flanders, 

 Zealand, Holland, and mekill of Almany comis with 

 sundry flotis, passand in the time of Lentrown throu the 

 seis Mediterrane aye selland thair fische to tliair grit 

 prof&t and winning."| 



And the same authority tells us that Lochfine had 

 been anciently known as a fishing station : " In Lochfine 

 is mair plenti of hering than is in ony seis of Albion. "§ 



The herrings had been equally changeable as they are 

 now, for this author says as to Inverness : "Inverness where 

 sumtym was grit plenti of tak of herring, howbeit, they be 

 now evanist for ofi'ens that is maid against sum sanct."|| 



In the reign of King James III. a law was made re- 

 garding the fitting out of " ships, busses, great pink 

 boats, and nets and other abuilzements :" viz., " That 



LORDES, BaRRONES, AND BuRROWES, GAR MAKE SCHIPPIS, 

 BUSCHES, AND GrEAT PINK BoATS WITH NETTES. Item, 



The Lordis thinkis expidient for the common gude of 



* Scots Acts, 1st Parliament James I., 26t]i May 1424. 

 t Noel, de la Moriniere, p. 319. 

 J Belleuden'sBoece's Cosmograpliie of Albion, xxiii. 

 § Ibid. xxxi. II Ibid, xxxiii. 



