CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 173 



or two towns on the coast of Fife fitted out 168 boats, 

 manned by 1120 men, and generally exported 12,000 

 barrels.* And an author who wrote a work on "Salt 

 and Fishery," says the Scotch boats every year carry away 

 from Dublin L, 60,000 sterling for salt and herrings.f 



The undertakings which had beenbegun in London seem 

 to have been unsuccessful, for on the 25th September 

 1684, letters patent under the great seal were granted by 

 King Charles II., incorporating a company for carrying on 

 the fishery, to be called the " Eoyal Fishery of England," 

 but the sum subscribed amounted only to £11,980 ; and in 

 consequence of the death of Charles II., the new company 

 which had been formed was dissolved, and it is alleged 

 King William did not sufficiently encourage the fishery, 

 from a desire to protect his countrymen the Dutch. In 

 what way King William did so it does not appear, unless, 

 in his well-known penurious disposition, refusing to furnish 

 funds for another undertaking. An Act of Parliament 

 was, however, passed in 1690, having the following pre- 

 amble, which proves the necessity of legislative interfer- 

 ence, for although the company had discontinued fishing, 

 they still continued to exact 10s. per last on all herrings 

 exported. This preamble says, " Considering that the late 

 Eoyal Company erected for fishing is now dissolved, by re- 

 turning their stocks and quitting the prosecution of that 

 trade in company as was designed in its institution, and 

 yet they continue to exact six pounds Scots per last of all 

 herrings exported forth of the kingdom, to the hurt of 

 their Majesties' lieges," it then goes on to annul the former 

 Act, allows a drawback on the salt used of ten pounds 

 four shillings Scots on all herrings exported ; but while it 



* Transactions of Highland Society, vol. ii. p. 296. 

 t John Collins on Salt and Fishery, p. 67. 



