CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 209 



less than half an inch in thickness, or, if they are, that 

 they shall be liable to seizure ; and that, although by the 

 Treaty of the Union certain clauses implied restrictions 

 in the use of British salt for curing herrings and other 

 fish, " full liberty was to be given to use such salt, or 

 British salt, mixed with foreign salt ;" but this Act most 

 absurdly imposed the following duties on herrings used 

 in this country : first, a duty of Is. per barrel of herrings 

 consumed in Scotland ; then, 3s. 4d. per barrel of Scottish 

 herrings consumed in England ; and imposed various re- 

 strictions and penalties as to the mode of using salt, which 

 duties, restrictions, and penalties, must have been vexa- 

 tious and oppressive, and tending to impede the progress 

 of the fishery. 



In 1757, the Free British Fishery Society applied by 

 petition to Parliament, stating that they had expended 

 L.136,305, 8s. 6d., besides the produce of the fish caught 

 and the amount of the bounties obtained, and requesting 

 assistance from Parliament in the form of higher bounties, 

 and the permission to use such nets as might be deemed 

 most expedient. Parliament, accordingly, allowed the use 

 of such nets as might be thought most advantageous hj 

 the company, and increased the bounty to 50s. per ton. 



fishery on the coasts of that part of Great Britain called Scotland, or on 

 the coasts of Shetland and Orkney, or any of the said islands, shall have 

 and exercise the free use of all ports, harbours, shores, and forelands, below 

 the highest water-mark, and for the space of 100 yards on any waste or 

 uncultivated land beyond such mark, within the land, for landing their nets, 

 casks, and other materials, utensils, and stores, and for erecting tents, huts, 

 and stages, and for the landing, packing, curing, drying, and reloading 

 their fish, without paying any feu-land or other dues, or any other sum or 

 sums of money, or other consideration whatever, any law, statute, or custom 

 whatsoever notwithstanding ; and if any person or persons shall presume to 

 demand or receive any dues, sums of money, or other consideration, or ob- 

 struct the fishermen or other persons employed in the taking, buying, or 

 curing of fish, ho or they shall forfeit L.IOO. 



O 



