A True NARRATION OF The Royal Fishings OF Great BRITAIN and JRELAND.  
Instituted Anno 1632, and prosecuted by the Right Honourable, PHILIP, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and his Associates, until Anno 1640, from the River of THAMES.  
Whereunto is added a Discovery of new Trades, for the employing of all the poor people and Vagrants in the Kingdoms.  
BY SIMON SMITH, Agent for the Royal FISHING.  
LONDON, Printed by E. P. for Nicholas Bourne, at the south Entrance of the Royal EXCHANGE. 1641.   

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.  
The Lords Spiritual, and Temporal, and Commons, in the high Court of PARLIAMENT assembled.  Simon Smith, Agent for the Royal Fishing, of great Britain and Ireland, 
In all Humbleness showing,  
THat having now by the space of eight years, since his Majesty's first institution of the Royal Fishery, applied himself by all the best ways and means, to advance the Arts, Skill and Knowledge of the same, for the employment of people; and increasing of the Traffic of the Kingdoms, to the great benefit of his Majesty and the adventurers; which being brought to that perfection as formerly hath not been attained unto; It now wants nothing but execution; which to do I doubt not but there are many very willing and able; only that the employment is not believed, to yield that answerable profit which is expected and also because it hath been often begun and given over again, and these late associations have much discouraged the wellwishers thereof; Wherefore to vindicate the honour and reputation thereof, I have made bold in all humbleness to set forth this narration, and am ready to demonstrate the action itself to be very good and profitable, in all its relations, and to be embraced and cherished.   

Whereas it is reported that the Herring Fishing by Busses is unprofitable, alleging that the Lord Martial, and the Lord Chamberlains associations have lost their stocks, in their Fishing Business, I answer and say.  
THat the cause of the consumption of their stocks, was by their improper disbursements, managed by unskilful Factors, building of Barks, instead of Busses, which were not fit for that performance, and sending them, and other great ships laden with Merchandizes, and many Factors, which wasted & consumed their stocks unto the Lands, of the Lewis and Sheteland, applying themselves in a way of coaping with the Islanders for their commodities, taking unvendable Fish in lieu thereof.  

This was not the Fishing intended.  
And having made great preparations for the Herring Fishing in the Lowghes at the Lewis-Ilands, bought Land and erected houses for the curing and packing their Herrings, and stowage of their Nets, Cask, salt, and other provisions, it happened that the Herrings failed to come into those loughes, whereby their great charges and freights and wages were all lost: and being afterwards made known, that the Herrings did not constantly make their appearance in those Loughes, but many years failed.  
The Lord Marshals association, having wasted all their stock in that way of employment, quite gave over their Fishing, which did discourage many of the L. Chamberlains associates, whose under-writings being in 7 years' payments by equal portions, prevented the losing of their whole Srock; but caused them to detain their two last payments, yet the L. Chamberlan, & some of his associates, have prosecuted that business of the Herring Fishing, with Busses in the North seas, where the Netherlanders do constantly Fish, which is to this day continued by the Lord Chamberlains Agent, to the relief of many poor people; but the want of Stock, and interruption by the Dunkerker, although it hath hindered the prosperity and growth thereof, yet it hath discovered the action itself to be very good in all respects, and to be embraced and cherished, as for Directions for the Herring Fishing.  
Touching the proportion and charge of a Buss, with all the particulars belonging thereto, I refer unto the Book called Britiaines Busse, which exactly and truly sets down, both the qualities and quantities of all things belonging thereunto.   

The manner of the Fishing.  
The Buss of 70 Tuns, which can stow but 30 lasts of Herring Barrels, which is 360 barrels, in regard of the Stowage for the Nets, and other provisions, and must have 55 deep sea nets, of 4 deepings to each net, and each deeping being 70 Masses, at the first setting out, and must have 55 Nets more in readiness at return, leaving the others to be newed and tanned, and fitted for the last going out again, and so for Cask, Salt, and all other provisions to be ready for the quicker dispatch.  
The number of men and youths employed in this Buss is 19 viz. 10 Fishers, Gippers, Salters and Cooper's, 6 common men for labour, and three Country youths for Apprentices.  
The whole monthly wages to the 18 persons, besides the Master, will be about 20 li. The Master is to have in lieu of his wages 12. d. for every Merchantable barrel of Herring he takes.  
The victualling reckoned for two months at first setting out, which is the time of taking Summer Herring (called Seasticks) and then expected back unto the Maggazeene again.   

The places of the Fishing are  
First at Sheteland in Cullero and Brutio, Sounds, which is our King's Dominions, at which coast the Herrings do first rise, and shoots forwards to the Doggerbanke, which lieth in the main Ocean of those Northern seas, and there all nations do fish together, and about Bartholomew, they come into the Yarmouth Seas.  
This can give no offence to the Hollander, being its free in GOD'S high way (which is the Ocean) for all Nations to Fish.  
But if it please our King's Majesty in the future, when as our English and Scottish Busses shall increase, then to strengthen the privileges of Sheteland, Yarmouth, and other places from the stranger, it may prove advantageous to his subjects, as by the right of his Royalty, he may justly do.   

The Vent of Herrings in foreign parts.  
For the Summer Herrings, which are called Seasticks, (not being capable of packing, by reason of their fatness) are vented at Dansk, Elbing, Coningsburg, Statteene, and other places, within the Baltic Seas, from whence is Masts, Hemp, Pitch, Tar, Waynskots, Clapbords, Deal, and Cask, useful for the Fishery, or Gold, Silver, and Corn returned.  
Also Hamburg, Dunkirk, Deep, Nants, Roven, St. Valleries, St. Mallows, Bordeaux, and elsewhere.  
The second Fishing being repact Herrings, the full and shotten separated, which may be vented in all the places aforesaid. The Crux Herrings made with salt, upon salt, do find their best vent and price, at Roven.  
For the latter Fishing, if Corved Herrings, the best vent of them is at Yarmouth, to make red Herrings for Leghorne, Genova, and other parts within the straits.  
And what repact Herrings then shall be made, are to be vented at Deep Roven, and those other places before named, the Eastland being frozen up, and so too late to send any thither.  
The Herring Fishing beginneth the middle of june, and ceaseth about the middle of November, but from the time of going forth, until the return will be full six months.  
The same Buss being set forth with hook and line, for Cod and Ling may be employed therein, until the beginning of March, and then returning, is to be graved, cawlked and fitted out again for the Herring Fishing.  
The Countrymen employed, may after the Herring Fishing, return to their Country employment, or beat and dress Hemp, spin, twine, and brade deepings, and the like. The Gange Busse being open with one deck, is fittest for the Herring Fishing in regard the nets will be better preserved therein, then in a two deck Buss, and the charge is much less.  
There is another sort, and that is called a Hooker, or Welboat, whose bait is with Lampres, when as the herrings are not to be had for bait.   

That the Action is profitable in a way of Trading, may appear by this Calculation hereunder named, according to good experiment made thereof.  
The charge in setting forth of a Herring Buss, from the 15. of May, to the 15. Novem. being 6. months, will be at the highest rates.  
FOr Cask and Hoops 1000 Barrels at 2 s. per Barrel 100 l. 00 s. 00 d. For Salt 1000 bushels at 2 s. per bushel, 100 l. 00 s. 00 d. For Victualling and pettie-Tallie, 060 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the six month's wages to the Company, 120 l. 00. 00 d. For the Master his allowance, 12 d. the Barrel 050 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the repair of the 55. Nets, at 3 l. per Net 165 l. 00 s. 00 d. For extraordinary charges of Storehouses and Salaries, 035 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the repair of the Buss, or freight at 10 l. by the more. 060 l. 00 s. 00 d. Some is 630 l. 00 s. 00 d. The 1000 Barrels of Herrings will produce one with another for the net-Sales, the some of 1000 00 s. 00 d. So the clear gains for the Stock adventured is, 370 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
And if it should so happen, that but 500 Barrels be taken, yet there can be no loss.  
For the Salt and Cask not used, is 100 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the Master's allowance and other charges saved, 030 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the Sale of the 500 Barrels of Herring, 500 l. 00 s. 00 d. For the Sale of the 500 Barrels of Herring, 630 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
But if provision be made in due time with ready money, will further Fishings very much, and ease the rates of the provisions, and cause the return and dispatch of the Buss sooner, for the want of a Magazine hath been the only cause of hindering the prosperity thereof.  
If three Busses consort together, and take alongst with them, a Yagar laden with provisions, to supply them after they have taken such a quantity wherewith the said Yagar may run to the next market, and returning may meet together again at the Magazine, thereby a greater quantity of Herrings may be taken before that the Busses make their first return, and the same nets being employed whilst they are wet, will perform it with less hurt to the nets, then if they should come away assoon as they have gotten their lading.  
Also during their Fishings in the North Sea, the Busses may repair unto Holy-Iland near Berwick, for drying their Nets, and receiving of fresh provisions of Salt and Cask, which will be a great accommodation in regard they may in seven hours from thence be at their place of Fishings again.  
In few years the number of Busses increasing both of English and Scottish, they may be able to maintain an Armado for their defence as the Holland Busses do, which are always in readiness for the defence of the Kingdoms, if any sudden attempt should hereafter happen, which the Spanish Fleet that came lately into the Downs, found by woeful experience, It hath been observed that at Shetland which is the Randezvous of the Hollands Busses in the month of june, yearly hath been to the number of six and twenty hundred Busses, being enjoined not to put their Nets into sea before the 15. day of june.  
And this year 1641. the Netherlanders have sent forth 1900. Buss, and 36. ships of war to attend them, in which Busses and ships, are to the number of 40. thousand persons, Fishers, and Mariners, and the poor people which they set on work, at the several Towns and places whereto they belong in beating and dressing of Hemp, spynning of twine, brayding of deepings, making of Nets, Ropes, Cask, and other provisions, building and repairing of the Busses and the like, is not so little, as 40. thousand families at home, besides their foreign employment in the way of Merchandizing which ariseth thereby, and is of greater consequence unto the States than the Indies to the King of Spain.  
This Fishing employment is with a smaller Stock, less danger, nearer at hand, and quicker dispatch than any other, it is gained out of the Sea, for 4 s. which is the cost of the Salt and Herring barrel, produceth the 20. s. in Herrings, there being no one Manufacture in this Kingdom that giveth so universal employment.  
And if this business of the Herring Fishing were taken into due consideration, and made a national work, the poor people and vagrants, in, and about all Cities, Towns, and other places, may be kept in work to get their live by the beating and dressing of hemp, spinning of twine, and brading of deepings, for making of Nets, Lines, Norsels, Ropes, Cask. and other provisions, for the furnishing of a Magazene in each port, where any Busses shall be built, or set forth according to the manner of the Hollanders, who thereby have a flourishing Commonwealth, and do not suffer an idle person among them.  
And if those men that live wholly by their money trade, would employ their stocks, ot some part thereof in this service of the Commonwealth, to set up this Fishing Trade, in any one of the particulars, either by buying Hemp and making deeping to sell, or in building of Busses to sell, or Cask, or providing Salt, or setting up a Magazine for the victualling and furnishing with the needfulls, or will buy the Herring from the Fishermen and vent them, or will set up a Bank to furnish poor people with small sums of money on their pawns, at eight pence, whereby the spynners' and Brayders, and others, may employ themselves in any one of the said Manufactures; they would find a greater gain to arise unto them, then by their trade of Usury: and more safe and comfortable for them; And to instance in one particular, a 100 li. bestowed in hemp will produce 300. li. weekly, by the Manufactures thereof.   
FINIS.