208 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



the 12th September, and continue fishing to the 1st Janu- 

 ary, unless the loading was sooner completed ; and they 

 were not obliged to carry to the fishing more than one 

 fleet of nets.* 



In 1755 an Act was passed continuing the payment 

 of three per cent, interest on the capital subscribed by 

 the society, and the tonnage bounty for three years 

 longer than allowed in the Act of 1750, and permitting the 

 society to hire out their busses to others, and giving 

 more freedom as to places of rendezvous, and permitting 

 the fishery to be carried on in any part of the British 

 seas, t 



Another Act was passed in 1756, the preamble of which 

 states, *' That the extension of the British fishery is of 

 great importance to this kingdom, as it not only adds 

 considerably to the national wealth, but is moreover a 

 fruitful nursery of able seamen for the public service." 

 It gives more liberty to our fishermen as to fishing on the 

 coasts of Scotland, and in using harbours, and occupying 

 uncultivated grounds for landing nets and material ; and 

 permits any one, from and after the 25th June 1756, " to 

 take or buy from fishermen, and cure any herrings or 

 other fish ;"| and it enacts that the barrels shall not be 



* Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii., p. 401. 



t Ibid., vol. ii. p. 408. 



J This Act is of extreme importance, both to fishermen and curers; for 

 clause first gives free permission to British subjects to take and cure her- 

 rings and white fish in all and sundry the seas, channels, bays, firths, 

 lochs, rivers, and so forth, and for their greater convenience to have the 

 free use of all ports, harbours, shores, forelands, and others, for bringing in, 

 packing, drying, unloading, and loading the same, upon payment of the 

 ordinary dues where harbours are built, — that is, such as are paid for ships, 

 boats, and other goods ; and discharges all other exactions, such as one 

 night's fishing in the week, commonly called Saturday's fishing, under a 

 penalty of L.lOO, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstand- 

 ing. Clause second enacts, that all and every person employed in the said 



