FISHINGS OFF THE COAST OF BRITAIN 27 
The herring fishing off the coasts of Britain was, during 
the reign of Charles I., mainly in the hands of the Dutch 
fishermen, who obeyed the rules of the Dutch Fishery College, 
as they had done in the past; the Dutch vessels fished 
chiefly off the Lewis and on the east coast of England and 
Scotland. On the west coast of Scotland the fishing was 
to a very great extent in the hands of the native fishermen, 
and thus was not subject to the rules of the Dutch Fishery 
College, which fixed the 24th of June as the date for the 
first lowering of nets. 
On the west coast the fishing began about the first of 
July and continued till about the 25th of October. In the 
fishing were engaged about eight hundred “ Slayeing boats ”’ 
of between five and six tons each. This number increased 
as the season proceeded, ‘‘so that sometymes they will 
extend to the number of 1500 fishing boats, and that over 
200 Cowper boats about 12 Tun apiece, qch buyes the her- 
ring and transportes them from the places where they are 
taken to the burghs where they are sold for the use of the 
country.” 1 From February to May, about 120 of the 
largest of the boats, engaged at the mouth of the Clyde in 
“ane codling fishing.” It was estimated that some 6000 
men were employed in this west coast fishing. 
The most careless observer could not fail to ask why 
this Scotch west coast fishery employed vessels so much 
smaller and so much less numerous than those of the Dutch 
on the east coast. In answer to this, it was explained by 
the contemporary Scotch writer already quoted that there 
could not possibly be a “ bush” fishing on the west coast, 
nor could more vessels conveniently be employed, ‘‘ in respect 
of the deepness and narrowness of the Lochs, and want 
of Harbours for resett of vessels of greater burden.” Ob- 
1MSS., about 1630, 32.1.16, Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh. 
2MSS. 32.1.16, Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh. “ Memorandum con- 
cerning the fishing along the coast of England, Cornwall, etc.” 
