146 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



money, of fish to the furnishing of the cuntrie : And sic 

 like fra twa houres after noone to sex houres at even, it 

 sail not be leasum to bye, pack, or peile, the saidis fish, 

 bot that all our Soveraine Lordis lieges at the saidis times 

 of day may be served of all maner of fish, and bye the 

 samin for their silver, for sustentation of their house, and 

 serving of the cuntrie about : And that na maner of person 

 in this realme, merchand, or uthers, send, or have ony 

 maner of quliite fishe foorth of the samin, bot it sail be 

 leasum to strangers to cum within the realme to bye the 

 samin fra merchands and free men of burrowes with reddie 

 gold or silver, or be bartouring of sufficient merchandice 

 with the saidis merchandes, or with the owners thereof, 

 for their sustentation, necessares of their houses allanerly : 

 And quhair ony persones hes ony fishe packed or peiled, 

 that they be ready at all times to sell the samin to all our 

 Soveraine Lordis lieges for furnishing and sustentation of 

 their houses, and the countrie, under the paine of confis- 

 cation of the samin. It is statute and ordained that the 

 provests, aldermen, and baillies of burrowes in everie 

 mercat day passe and visit the mercattes, and set ane 

 price on all maner of fishe according to the time, and that 

 they diligenlie inquire gif ony maner of person gives 

 arles, or money, on ony maner of fishe that cummis to the 

 mercat, to the effect that the saimin may be sauld on ane 

 higher price ; that they take and punish the saidis per- 

 sones as coropares, forestallers, and regratoures against 

 the commoun weill." * 



And in the same year another Act was passed fixing a 

 uniform measure for the sale of herrings and other fish, 

 which is as follows : — 



* 7th Pari., James V., 14tli March 1540, sect. 98. 



