158 CHKONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



dom, for every thousand of the said assize herrings, and 

 L.50 money of this kingdom for every last of the said 

 assize white fish, and accordingly for every thousand 

 teind herring, and for every last of the teind white fish.* 



Instead, however, of the Scottish fleet having heen 

 permanently engaged in getting " teinds and assize," it 

 seems tohave been otherwise employed, for it was not even 

 occupied in protecting "the poor fishers in Scotland" 

 in 1625, for, on the 25th of September of that year, a letter 

 from the Lords of the Council was sent to his Majesty, 

 relating to " the great abuses done by the busses of the low 

 countries" in fishing along the north and east coasts of Scot- 

 land, to the utter ruin of all the poor fishers in Scotland, and 

 " prejudicing the hail kingdom of the benefit of herrings."t 



In 1630 King Charles issued a commission to inquire 

 into the fishery of the British coasts, and how the same 

 might be rendered more beneficial by forming a general 

 fishing company, and at the same time sent " a missive 

 letter" and " instructions" to Sir William Alexander, Se- 

 cretary of State for Scotland, at Edinburgh, dated West- 

 minster, 12th July 1630, which are of sufiicient importance 

 to be given at length. The records state as follows : — 



"1630, Jm??/ 30.— The which day Sir William Alexander, 

 knight, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State in this 

 country, exhibited and gave notice, and he states his 

 Majesty's missive-letter underwritten, together with the 

 instructions given by his Majesty to the said Sir William, 

 to be treated by him with the said estates about the erec- 

 tion of a general fishing, of which missive-letter and 

 instructions the tenor follows : — 



* Privy-Council Records of Scotland, 29tli June 1619. 

 t Privy-Council Records, Book 26. 



