A. D. 1756. Anno vicefimo nono Georgii II. C. 23. OS7 C A P. XXIII. An Ad for encouraging the Fifheries in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland. WHEREAS the extending and improving of the Britifi Fifhery is of great Importance to tliis CoimrmngTiJh- Kingdom, as it not only adds confiderably to the national Wealth, but is moreover 2, fruitful "V« ^'^'""'^ Nurfery of able Seamen for the publick Service : And whereas the fame is greatly obftruded by cer- "j'^J"^'^ '"' '* tain Refcridions, Exadtions and Regulations, to which the Fifhers and Curers of Fifn in North Bri- ' tain are fubjed:, either by Cuftom or the Laws now in Force: And whereas it further appears that it would be very advantageous to Trade in general, as well as to the Filhery, if the faid Exactions and Reftridions were taken off, and fuch new Regulations made, as are more accommodated to the pre- fent Circumftances of both : And whereas by an A6t made in the third Sefiion of the firft Parliament ^a of the 'of the late Queen Anne, in Scotland, intituled. An ASt for advancing and ejtablijinng tlie Fijhing Trade third SeflTicncf in and about that Kingdom, all her Majefly's Subjects of that Kingdom are' authorized and impowered ^^^"j^'^^""^ '" to take and cure Herring and White Fifli, in all and Sundry the Seas, Chanels, Bays, Firths, Lochs, Rivers and fo forth, of that her Majefty's Kingdom and Iflands thereto belonging, wherefcever Her- ring or White Fifli are or can be taken ; and for- their greater Conveniency, to have the free Ufe of all Ports, Harbours, Shores, Forelands and others, for bringing in, pickling, drying, unloading and loading the fame, upon Payment of the ordinary Dues where Harbours are built, that is, fuch as •are paid for Ships, Boats and other Goods; and difcharges all other Exadlions, fuch as one Night's fi(hing in the Week, commonly called Saturday's FiJInng, Top-money, Stallage, and the like :' And for the further explaining, enforcing and amending the faid Law; May it pleafe your moft Excellent Ma- jefty that it may be ena6ted ; and be it ena<fted by the King's moft Excellent Majefcy, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That from and after the twenty-tifth Day of 7aw one P^wer^l'^^en^o thoufand feven hundred and fifty-fix, all Perfons whatfoever, Inhabitants of Great Britain, mall, and t^K-e, buy from they are hereby declared to have Power and Authority, at all Times and Seafons, when they (hall think Fimermen, and proper, freely to take, buy from Fiihermen, and cure any Herrings, Cod, Linger any other Sort '^^^^^^]^l^l^^^' white Fifli, in ail and every Part of the Seas, Chanels, Bays, Firths, Lochs, Rivers or other Wa- seas or Rivers in ters, where fuch Fi(h are to be found, on the Coafts of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, and Scotland, or oi Orkney, Shetland, and all other Iflands belonging to that Part oi Great Britain called Scotland ■,]^^^^^^^^^^° any Law, Statute or Cuflem, to the contrary in any wife notwithftanding : And if any Perfon or Per- fons whomfoever Ihall, after the twenty-fifth Day oi June one thoufand feven hundred and fif^ty-fix, o^p^rfons ob- under any Pretence whatfoever, prefume tc obftruit or hinder any Perfon or Perfons from Filhing asftruaingthe aforefaid, in Moonlight Nights, or at any other Time whatfoever, in all or any, or in any Part of the Fifiiery, or ta- faid Seas, Chanels, Bays, Firths, Lochs, Rivers or other Waters as aforefaid, or fhall demand or re- J=^FS |?;'^>'(°;'^;_ ceive any Gratuity or Allowance whatfoever, either in Money, Fifh or otherwife, under the Name of ty'of fifhmg, Saturday Night's Fijhing, or under any other Name or Pretence whatfoever, from any Fifherman or other Perfon, for the Liberty of Fifhing in all or any, or in any Part of the faid Seas, Chanels, Bays, Firths, Lochs, Rivers and other Waters, as aforefaid ; every fuch Perfon fhall, for every fuch Of- fence refpedively, forfeit the Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling, to be recovered in Manner here- in after dire6ted ; any Law, Ufage or Cuftom to the contrary notwithftanding. IL And be it further enadted by the Authority aforefaid. That all and every Perfon or Perfons J^l'^^^^j^f employed in the faid Filhery, on the Coafts of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, or on the faid ^^^^^'^ 3,,/ Coafts of Orkney, Shetland, or any of the faid Iflands, fliall have and exercife the free Ufe of all Ports, shores, allowed Harbours, Shores and Forelands, in that Part of G7-eat Britain called Scotland, or in Orkney, Shetland, {jgj','^jJ4"line or any of the faid Iflands, below the higheft High Water Mark, and for the Space of one hundred sta^^ls and Yards on any Wafte or uncultivated Land, beyond fuch Mark, within the Land, for landing their Tents, and Nets, Casks, and other Materials, Utenfils and Stores, and for erefting Tents, Huts and Stages, and '^""ng Fi(h. for the landing, pickling, curing, drying, and reloading their Fifh, without paying any Foreland or other Dues, or any other Sum or Sums of Money, or other Confideration whatfoever, for fuch Liberty, ex- cept as hereafter excepted ; any Law, Statute or Cuftom whatfoever to the contrary notwithftanding- • And if any Perfon or Perfons fliall prefume to demand or receive any Dues, Sums of Money, or other 100 1. Penalty Confideration whatfoever, for the Ufe of any fuch Ports, Harbours, Shores or Forelands, within the ^;)^'^/^,™7^;^^ Limits aforefaid, fo made Ufe of for the Purpofes aforefaid, or fhall prefume to obftrudt the Fifliermen comider'ation or other Perfons employed in the taking, buying, or curing of Fifti in the Ufe of the fame,, every Per- Money. fon fo offending ft-jall, for every fuch Offence, forfeit the Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling, to be recovered and levied in Manner herein after directed. ^ III. Provided always. That nothing in this. Aft contained ftiall extend to exempt the Vefiels or xscats Duties to be employed in the faid Fiftiery, from the Payment of fuch Harbour or Pier Dues as are and by Law {jp^.ijHa.'bours ought to be demanded for Ships, Veffels or Boats, in Piers or Harbours, which are built or artificially orPiers. made, but that fuch Harbour or Pier Dues Ihall be paid in like Manner as the fame were liable to be. paid before the paiTing of this A6t. ' . ' IV. And whereas it is found by Experience that the Barrels now ufed for packing and putting up ot ' White Herrings and Wet White Fifti, in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, are not of proper ' thicknefs ;' Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid. That from and after the twenty-hfth Day of 7w//f one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-eight, the Staves of ail Barrels in which fuch hifh
