150 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING- FISHERY. 



a still more objectionable nature, wliich compelled all 

 those who fished herrings and white fish, to bring what " is 

 slayne be the inhabitants within the water of Forth to 

 Leith, within the priviledge and freedom of the city of 

 Edinburgh, and within the port and haven of Carail ; and 

 what is slayne beneath Fifisness to the water of Dee, to 

 Dundee and Perth ; and at the west side to Dumbartane, 

 dividand the bounds at the Clockstane, there to be gaged, 

 marked, and sauld to the free burgesses of the realme," 

 and the most objectionable part is, " that na fischers, or 

 utheris, unfreemens, sell their said herring and quhite 

 fiscli to ony stranger, or unfreemen, or carrie the samin 

 forth of the realme, to any uther cuntries to be sauld be 

 themselves, under the paine of escheiting all their muvable 

 gudes.* 



effect grantis and givis to them power and commission of justiciare, every 

 ane within the boundes of their ain liberties and jurisdictiones, and to up- 

 take escheittes of the contraveneris being convict, the twa part to the 

 Kingis Majesties use, and to make compt thereof yeirlie in his hienes' 

 checker, and the third part of the samin to the saidis judges executions for 

 their travelle and labours." (6th Pari., King James VI., 20th Oct. 1579, 

 sect. 86.) 



* " ANENT THE GAGE AND STANDARD OF SALMOND, HEEEING, AND QUHITE 

 FISH, AND PKINCIPAL STAPLES THEREOF. 



" Item, Our Soveraine Lord, with advice of the three estaites of Parlia- 

 ment, ratifies and appreivis all and sundrie Actes and Statutes maid be his 

 hienes and predecessoures concerning the measure of salmond, herring, and 

 quhite fishe, gageing, burning, and measuring theirof. And to the effect 

 the saidis Actes may be the better keeped, and for eschewing of defraud of 

 the saidis measures, and of false and unjust packing of salmond, herring, 

 and quhite fishe, quhilk is meikle used be unfreemen, fischers, and utheris, 

 slayeris of the saidis fish, to the great hurt of the free mem, burgesses, and 

 merchandes, and haill commoun weill of this realme. Therefoir, it is 

 statute and ordained that there be ane just measure and standard for the 

 salmond maid be the burrowes, conforme to the auld Actes of Parliament, 

 and the samin to remain at the burgh of Aberdene. And sic like that there 

 be ane just standard and measure for herring and quhite fish, quhilk sail 

 be burnt, and remain in the keeping of the Provost and Baillies of Edin- 

 burgh, and that all salmond trees, herring trees, and quhite fishe trees, 



