CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 155 



treaty. M'Leod afterwards left the district, and when 

 Learmonth of Balcomy was on his return to report the 

 success of the expedition, he was attacked by M'Leod, 

 his men killed, and he himself made prisoner and de- 

 tained, M'Leod demanding a ransom. Learmonth died 

 in the Orkneys ; and ultimately, M'Leod and twelve of 

 his followers were taken and executed at St Andrews. 



In 1602 the commissioners of England and Scotland 

 agreed that the fishing within fourteen miles of the shore 

 of Scotland, " where neither English nor other strangers 

 used to fish," should be reserved to the Scotch.* 



Li the year 1605 the attempt to establish a colony of 

 fishermen at the Lewis Island was repeated. The com- 

 pany before named transferred their right to Lumsdale of 

 Airdrie and Mr Hay, who, getting aid from M'Kenzie and 

 Donald Gorm, compelled the M'Leod of that time and 

 his followers to leave the island, and got people from 

 the south to erect houses and an establishment ; but as 

 the funds became exhausted, they sold their right to 

 M'Kenzie, and the enterprise was then given up. 



In October 1609, King James VI. issued a proclama- 

 tion prohibiting foreigners from fishing on the coasts of 

 Great Britain, and, accordingly, the following year, the 

 Dutch made a treaty with him, agreeing to pay for 

 liberty to fish in the British seas.f 



In 1613 a composition was made for the usual supply 

 of fish to the king's household by Great Yarmouth, 

 namely, anuuallj^ to supply 1500 cods and 60 barrels of 

 white herrings, of the best brand, at the price of 13s. 4d. 

 per barrel, and 10 casks of full red herrings, of one night's 



* Spottiswoode's History of Scotland, p. 483. 



t Salmon's Chronology, vol. i. p. 96 ; Anderson's Commerce, vol. i. 

 p. 478. 



