166 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



* free-born naturalised inhabitants of Scotland, and of all 

 ' others who shall be taken and enrolled in any of the 

 ' said companies and societies, and admitted to the privi- 

 ' leges thereof, and shall enter themselves in the said so- 



* cieties within any shire or burgh of this said kingdom, 



* one or moe betwixt and the 



' day of , as the first modern societies or 



' companies to the effect after specified, constituting and 

 ' creating such persons who shall enter themselves and 



* their successors in a body and incorporation politick to 

 ' exercise the trade under-written : And ordains that none 

 ' be accepted therein, except he who shall enter the sum 



* of five hundred merks Scots, at least, of stock in the said 

 ' society : And wills and grants that whosoever are of the 

 ' forsaid societies or companies to be constitut, their heirs 

 ' and assignees, shall enjoy the yearly benefit of the stock 

 ' to be given by them in all time after the ingiving there- 

 ' of, but to have no power to uplift the stock, except by 



* consent of the companie or council thereof after-specified, 



* granting and committing like as his Majestie by the 



* tenour hereof gives, grants, and commits to the said 



* companies and societies so to be constitut, and to all 



* such whom they or their successors shall admit or re- 

 ' ceive therein, full power to take and fish herring and 

 ' white fish in all sundry seas, channels, firths, rivers, 

 ' floods, lakes, and lochs of this his Majestie's said ancient 

 ' kingdom of Scotland and isles thereuntobelonging, where- 

 ' soever herring and white fish are or may be taken, and 

 ' to bring in and disburden the said herring and other 

 ' white fishes to all and sundry ports, harbours, shores, 



* and to lay the same on the land, and pickle them with 

 ' salt, and to dry and load the same in barrels and pun- 

 ' cheons, and for conservation of the said herrings and 



