CHKONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 187 



' ported for the trade of fishing, shall be free of custom, or 

 ' any other imposition whatsoever ; and that the herring 

 ' or white fish, taken, cured, and packed as foresaid, are 

 ' and shall be free of any manner of duty or taxation to 

 ' her Majesty in the exportation of the same. And fur- 



* ther, her Majesty, with consent, ratifies and approves 

 ' all former Laws and Acts of Parliament, made anent 

 ' the slaying and destroying of red fish, smolts, and sal- 

 ' mon, and hereby requires and commands the judges 

 ' therein mentioned to put these laws to due execution, 

 ' and to that effect to hold courts twice a year, Pasch and 

 ' Michaelmass yearly, at the ordinary place of such court 

 ' within the jurisdiction, and to punish the delinquents per- 

 ' sonally if insolvent ; certifying such judges as shall fail 

 ' to hold courts, and uplift the fines, or punish delinquents 

 ' as said is, after these being required thereto personally 



* under form of instrument by any house, or other per- 

 ' sons concerned, they shall be liable in the sum of five 

 ' hundred merks, toties qiioties, to belong to the person 

 ' who shall pursue the judge, so failing or refusing to do 



* justice in manner above expressed. And it is hereby 

 ' declared, that such processes as shall be commenced 

 ' before the Lords of Session for that effect shall be dis- 

 ' cussed summarily, abiding the course of roll, impower- 

 ' ing the said lords to modify the expense of plea by 

 ' and attour the penalty. And siklike the officers of the 

 ' independant company, and other officers of her Majesty's 

 ' customs, are hereby required to apprehend the per- 

 ' sons of delinquents, that may be either found guilty or 

 ' declared fugitive, and that upon the warrant or orders 

 ' of the judges ordinary, for their serving as recruits, con- 

 ' form to the 33d Act of the 6th Session of King Wil- 

 ' liam's Parliament ; and also strictly prohibits and dis- 



