CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 273 



1852, Crans and Barrels. — Before the establishment of 

 the Fishery Board, the fishermen, when selling their her- 

 rings, were often liable to be defrauded by the measure 

 not being of the proper size, and various orders and regu- 

 lations were issued by the Board on the subject ; and in con- 

 sequence of the law fixing a standard measure of capacity, 

 the Board found it necessary to issue, on 15th May 1852, an 

 order as to the changing the measure, or rather the deno- 

 mination of its contents. The contents of the crans or 

 barrel-measure of fresh herrings, before the measure of 

 capacity was changed, was 32 gallons per barrel, and 16 gal- 

 Ions per half barrel, English Wine Measure ; and the order 

 fixes the same measure to be continued as containing 

 37^ gallons, Imperial Standard Measure, in the cran or 

 barrel, and so in proportion for the half. The Board, more- 

 over, orders that the said cran or measure shall be made of 

 oak staves completely seasoned, three-fourths of an inch in 

 thickness, neither more nor less ; the staves not to be under 

 2 inches, nor more than 4 inches in breadth, and no croze* to 

 be allowed ; that the cran shall be bound with six good iron 

 hoops, of the following dimensions, — namely, the hoops at 

 the extreme ends of the cran to be 2 inches in breadth, 

 those on each end of the bilge to be IJ inch in breadth, 

 and those on each quarter thereof to be 1|^ inch in breadth, 

 all of proportional thickness ; that the bilge hoops shall be 

 so placed as to leave a space not exceeding 9 inches between 

 the two ; and the order further directs the placing of iron 

 rivets to fix the hoops, and permits twelve holes to be bored 

 to allow the w^ater to escape, as well as the placing of han- 

 dles for the convenience of the trade, — such measure to be 

 inspected by the fishery officer, and branded, if found cor- 

 rect, and of the size and capacity described in the said order. 

 * Circular incision to receive the heads or ends required in hands. 



