●CT by the general Meeting of the Fishing Society, licensing the Exportation of Herrings.  
At Edinburgh, the 12. day of July, 1678.  
FOrasmuch as the Royal Company, authorized by His Sacred Majesty to be the only exporters of Herrings and other white Fish, Did, upon certain considerations, give and grant licence to all Natives inhabitants of this Kingdom, for the seasons of Fishing, 1673, 1674, 1675, 1676, and 1677. to make and export Herrings with the Restrictions and Impositions therein mentioned; as likewise, by their Act of the general Meeting the 10. of December, 1677. did retract the said Licence upon certain grounds and reasons therein expressed: Notwithstanding of which, the general Meeting does for this next season of Fishing, 1678. continue the Licence for making and exporting of Herrings upon the Restrictions aftermentioned, and of payment of six pounds scots per Last, for the use and behoove of the Company, for the Liberty of Export: That is to say, All Natives Inhabitants of this Kingdom, may fish and export Herrings at Dumbar and places adjacent, and the North-Lochs commonly designed the Lews, at any time they please, and the Western Fishing within the Mules of Galloway and Kintyre, Clyde, and the adjacent Loches included, at any time after the 20. day of September, not beginning sooner to fish for export in these Precincts, nor for Domestic use, except as is hereafter expressly provided; providing always, that all Herrings for export shall be made up in oaken Barrels of the bigness and size with the Companies Cask, which contains eight Gallons four Pynts; That they be made and cured in the same manner the Company do, and salted with such Salt as they do, and to be re-packed, and at their Repacking, to be overseen by any appointed by the Managers of the Society for that effect, who is to ●●t a  Mark upon each Barrel, if they be sufficient and fit for Export, and is to be entered, and pay to any appointed by the Managers for uplifting the same, the sum of six Pounds per Last, for the Liberty of Export, and that als well of the Herrings taken at Dumbar and the Lewis, as these to be exported from the Western Loches: And now since the Company has dispensed with the Dumbar and Lews Fishing for this next Season, and having made provision of Barrels for that effect, any intending for these Fishings is hereby obliged proportionally to take off the Barrels provided by the Company, they still being good and sufficient, and at as easy rates as others affords them. And likeways, all the Vessels intending for the north loch's or Lews fishing, their Owners or ●●aughters are hereby obliged to make intimation to the Directors of the Company at Edinburgh of the same, and of the Vessels burden: And any intending to order their Vessels beyond Seas before their return, in that case, they are obliged to take an authorized Couper, who must give his oath to the Directors for making of the Herrings in manner , and the Merchants or Owners shall give security to the Managers for payment of the six pounds per Last, and shall have a Warrant from them for that effect; Hereby declaring, this present Licence is still reserving to the Company the early Fishing in the Western Loches, within the Mules of Galloway and Kintyre only improven by them, that Country never being in use formerly to fish before the time limited: And seeing how small effect their Acts have taken, the Merchants fishing and salting vast quantities of Herrings b●fore the time limited, upon pretence they are for domestic use, hath them at all parts beyond seas before the Company; and being unsufficient, as made in haste and not right cured, puts a  upon the Companies Fish, spoils the Mercats abroad, and diminishes the quantity the Company would otherways make, and overrates the early green Herrings at home. Therefore the said general Meeting of the fishing Society, do hereby prohibit and discharge all Merchants, Skippers, or Owners of any Vessel, Bark or Boat, Seamen, Coupers, or other Tradesman, Fisher, or any other person or persons whatsoever, to salt and barrel Herrings before the 20. day of September, and that under the pain of Confiscation, of what Herrings shall be found to be barrelled before the said day; As also, of the Vessel or Vessels where any such herrings, or barrels, with Spanish or French Salt shall be found, either in Ships▪ Barks, Boats, Couper-boats, or any other Vessel or Boat whatsoever, in any of the Loches or Creeks within the Mules of Galloway and Kintyre, or upon the River of Clyd, or of any Herrings barrelled that shall be found upon land, in Buiths, Houses, or elsewhere within the said Precinct, before the 20. of September, and is to be confiscate for the use and behoove of the fishing Society; excepting always all Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others, that do make and barrel Herrings for the proper use of their own respective families, providing they intimate to the Overseer of the Company at Greenock, how many barrels they are to make, and give surety to him they shall be landed and expended accordingly within the country, and the said Overseer shall give Warrant for this effect: And any person whatsoever, who shall be found barrelling Herrings before the 20. of September, not having Warrant as said is, shall confiscate such Herrings and Barrels, with the Vessel or Vessels wherein they shall be found, for the use and behoove of the Company: And do hereby continue the Licence for Exporting of Herrings, for the next season of fishing as is , they observing the Instructions, Rules, and Intimations, and not salting or barrelling Herrings, before the 20. of September; with certification as is above-exprest, and the contraveeners to be pursued against, according to the Patent and Privilege of the Company. Extracted by me,  
PAT. MURRAY.   

●DINBVRGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, 1678.