182 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



' curing, after their return from abroad, before any judge 

 ' competent, to the effect they may have the benefit of 

 ' the said allowance, as the same shall be found due."* 



In the year 1702-3, the Dutch herring-fishery sustained 

 a severe loss, in consequence of being attacked by six sail 

 of French men-of-war ; the Dutch fleet of fishing vessels 

 was guarded by four ships of war, and the French having 

 attacked them, sunk the admiral's ship, and the three 

 others fled ; the French then burned 'four hundred Dutch 

 busses in Brussa Sound, and from this blow it is said the 

 Dutch herring-fishery has never recovered.f 



The previous enactments having fallen into desuetude, 

 in 1704, in the reign of Queen Anne, a very liberal enact- 

 ment was made, showing that the proper knowledge of 

 what was necessary was beginning to be acquired. This 

 allows all the subjects of the kingdom to fish herrings, 

 and gives free use of all the harbours and shores for 

 landing, on payment of the ordinary rates ; prohibits all 

 other exactions, such as " a night's fishing" in the week, 

 commonly called "Saturday's fishing," top-money, stallage, 

 and the like ; enacts that all the herrings shall be cured 

 with foreign salt ; that the maker's name of the place 

 shall be branded on all barrels of herrings exported, under 

 penalties and seizure ; that they should be liable to exami- 

 nation, and if defective, seized, and the curers or exporters 

 fined ; allows a bounty on exportation of £10, 4s. Scots 

 per last of herrings fished by the busses, and £24 Scots per 

 last of red herrings ; and foreign fishers employed by the 

 inhabitants or societies were to be entitled to the privilege 

 of British subjects while so employed ; it exempted from 



* Will. I., Tarl. 7, c. 24, 19th July 1698. t Edmonstoup, p. 263. 



