154 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



lieges for their sustentation and furnishing of the cuntrie, 

 under the paine of ane hundred poundes." * 



In 1600 another objectionable Act was passed, pro- 

 hibiting the exporting of herrings before Michaelmas 

 (Old Michaelmas, 11th October), and ordering that the 

 herrings be brocht to public marcets, and their sauld to 

 all his hienes' lieges upon reasonable pryces."t 



About this time King James VI., before he went to 

 England, endeavoured to establish a fishing colony at the 

 Lewis Islands, and an expedition proceeded thither for 

 this purpose commanded by William Murray, Learmonth 

 of Balcomy, James Spence of Wormwood, Sir James 

 Austruther, and James Forrest of Fingask. The co- 

 partners had agreed to get possession of the Lewis for 

 140 chaldrons of barley, and took 600 men with them and 

 several gentlemen as volunteers. They had, however, to 

 contend with Mardoc M'Leod, who then commanded 

 there, but who was ultimately compelled to ent^r into a 



* llth Pari., King James VI., 29th July 1587, sect. 57. 



t ACT ANENT THE SALTING AND TKANSPOETING OF HEKRING. 



" The King's Majesty, withadvyse of theestaites of this present parliament, 

 statutis and ordainis that na person or persones, als well strangers as native 

 borne subjects of this realme, take upon hand to buy, pack, peill, salt, barrel, 

 or yet transport foorth of this realme any herring, in small or great quantity, 

 at any time before Michaelmas yearly, but to suffer the samine to be 

 brought to public marceis, and there sauld to all his hieness' lieges upon 

 reasonable pryces, without attempting anything in the contraire thereof, 

 under paine of confiscation of the samine to the apprehender, and the rest 

 to his Majestie's use, to be intromitted with by his liienes' comptroller, and 

 sik as he shall give power and commission to for that effect ; and statutis 

 and ordainis that no licences be granted hereafter for packing, peiling, 

 salting, and transporting of herring before the time foresaid, except the 

 samine liecences be granted with consent of the counsell sitting in the 

 counsell. And after granting of the said licences, ordaines the saimine 

 to pass the signet and haill seals, otherwise declares the samine licenses to 

 be null and of no avail." (King James VI., 16th parliament, 15th No- 

 vember 1600.) 



