CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 219 



ties was the first year withheld by the officers of govern- 

 meiit. This was to be regretted, for the herrings caught 

 by these ships were considered equal to the Dutch her- 

 rings, and arrived sooner at Hamburgh, and brought as 

 high prices in that market as the early caught Dutch 

 herrings. 



The Custom-house fees were at this time (1786) oppres- 

 sively high, and acted in a prohibitory way on the buss 

 fishery. For instance, every buss paid Custom-house and 

 other fees, — 



Clerks, Custom-house, .... 



Surveyor s fees, 



Admiral's fees, ..... 

 For 3 boats to each buss. 



Besides duty on casks and salt, 



A Society was formed and incorporated by Act of Par- 

 liament in 1786, named, " the Society to extend the Fish- 

 eries, and improve the Sea Coasts of the Kingdom," 

 which has been of essential service in affording facilities 

 for the prosecution of the herring-fishery.f The pre- 

 amble of the Act 26 Geo. III. states, that ' the building of 

 ' free towns, villages, harbours, quays, piers, and fishing 

 ' stations in the Highlands and Islands of North Britain, 

 ' will greatly contribute to the improvement of fisheries, 

 ' agriculture, manufactures, and other useful objects of 

 ' industry in that part of the kingdom in which the dis- 

 ' persed situation of the inhabitants had hitherto proved 



* Knox's Observations, p. 136. 



t At the head of this Society was the Duke of Argyle, the grandfather cf 

 the present duke, and several of the nobility and gentry of Scotland were 

 members. 



