CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 175 



the freedoms and advantages competent to them, before 

 the erection of the foresaid company, and particularly 

 the foreign salt, imported and employed upon the curing 

 of fish, shall be free of excise or other duty. And to 

 prevent all questions that may arise anent the quantities 

 of salt to be employed, their Majesties, "with advice 

 and consent foresaid, do ordain the merchants exporters 

 to have allowance, or to be repayed, by the customers for 

 behoof of first seller and curer of the fish, who bought 

 the salt for that use, of ten pounds four shillings Scots, 

 for the salt of each exported last of herrings, conform to 

 thetwelth act of the first session, of the second Parliament 

 of King Charles the second, anent excise and customs, 

 and the proclamation of the Privy Council, dated the 

 eleventh day April, one thousand six hundred and 

 thirty-one, instead of the exemption of customs of all 

 fishes exported, provided by the first Act of the fourth 

 session of that same Parliament, anent the pre-exemp- 

 tion of salt. It is hereby expressly provided and de- 

 clared, that albeit the taking of fishes be allowed to all 

 the lieges without prejudice of men's particular proper- 

 ties, yet the exportation of fishes doth only belong to 

 the merchants of the royal burghs, conform to the Act 

 of this present parliament, which priviledges are hereby 

 no ways infringed. And their Majesties, with consent 

 foresaid, do recommend to the Lords of their Majesties 

 Privy Council, to receive such overtures from the royal 

 burrows or others, and to interpone their authority to 

 such of these overtures as they shall find to be most 

 convenient, and to conduce most for the better curing of 

 fishes, and for the profit and honour of the trade.' 



Another act was passed in the same reign, 1693, which 



