CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 193 



matter fell, and they lost two-thirds of their money. 

 Oppressed beggars arc always knaves, and I believe there 

 are hardly any other among us ; they had rather gain a 

 shilling by knavery than five pounds by honest dealing. 

 They lost L.500 a-year for ever in the time of the plague 

 at Marseilles, when the Spaniards would have bought all 

 their linen from Ireland, but the merchants and the weavers 

 sent over such abominable linen that it was all returned 

 back, and sold for a fourth part of its value. Tliis is 

 our condition, which you may please to pity, but never can 

 mend. I wish you good success with all my heart. I 

 have always loved good projects, but have always found 

 tliem to miscarry. — I am, Sir, with true esteem for your 

 good intentions," &c. 



About this time, as connected with the herring-fishery, 

 there occurred a circumstance worth recording of two 

 eminent Scotsmen of their day ; in the year 1738, the 

 celebrated Lord President Duncan Forbes, of Culloden, 

 having accompanied the great John Duke of Argylc, to 

 Tyree, in the month of June, he, to prove to his Grace 

 what great riches his coasts possessed, privately persuaded, 

 against their will, but by means of a bribe, one of the 

 fishermen to cast his nets one night for herrings, and to 

 the wonder of the fishermen they got 2000 fine fat her- 

 rings. Next morning early, the Lord President, being 

 informed of the result, he, unknown to the Duke, got 

 some of the herrings in the manner of the. district 

 " nicked" and boiled in salt-water, and another dish of 

 herrings splitted and dressed with pepper and salt, and 

 broiled on the gridiron; and both these dishes were offered 

 by the Lord President to his Grace at breakfast. " Dun- 

 can/' says the Duke, " I have often eaten herrings at dinner, 



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