depiction of the state arms of the Commonwealth (1649-60) consisting of the cross of St. George (patron saint of England) and the Irish harp  
AN ACT GIVING LICENCE FOR Transporting Fish in Foreign Bottoms. At the Parliament begun at Westminister the 17th Day of September, Anno Domini, 1656.  
BE it Enacted by His Highness the Lord Protector, and this present Parliament, That it shall, and may be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever, to Buy, and Transport out of England, Scotland, and Ireland, to any Part or Place beyond the Seas, these following sorts of Fish in Foreign Ships or Bottoms, or in the Ships or Bottoms of this Commonwealth, manned with any person or persons whatsoever, any Act, Order, or Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding; And that the Custom to be paid for the same by the Natives of this Commonwealth, be as followeth. viz. For every hundred of Newland Fish, containing six score, three pence. For every Hundred of Hake, containing six score, six pence. For every hundred of Conger Dulce, six pence. For every Tun of Pilchards, one pound five shillings. For every Barrel of winter Herrings, white, full, and Packed, eight pence. For every Last of winter Herrings, white, full, and Packed, containing twelve Barrels, eight shillings. For every Last of winter Herrings, white, full, and unpacked, or Seasticks, containing eighteen Barrels, eight shillings. For every Barrel of winter Herrings, white, shotten, and Packed, four pence. For every Last of winter Herrings, white, shotten, and Packed, containing twelve Barrels, four shillings. For every Last of winter Herrings, white, shotten, and unpacked, or Seasticks, containing eighteen Barrels, four shillings. For every Cade of winter Herrings, red, and full, containing five hundred, four pence. For every Last of winter Herrings, red, and full, containing twenty Cades, or ten thousand, six shillings. For every Cade of winter Herrings, red, and shotten, containing five hundred, two pence. For every Last of winter Herrings, red, and shotten, containing twenty Cades, or ten thousand, three shillings. For every Barrel of summer Herrings, shotten, white, and Packed, four pence. For every Last of summer Herrings, containing twelve Barrels, shotten, white, and Packed, four shillings. For every Last of summer Herrings, shotten, white, and unpacked, or Seasticks, containing eighteen Barrels, four shillings. For every Cade of summer Herrings, red, containing five hundred, two pence. For every Last of summer Herrings, red, and shotten, containing twenty Cades, or ten thousand, three shillings. For every Barrel of Salmon, one shilling and six pence. And all and every Stranger, or Alien, to pay for every sort and kind of Fish afore mentioned, double the aforesaid Rates and Proportions respectively.  
Provided always, and it is further Enacted, That it shall, and may be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever, to Buy and Transport out of Newfoundland, or New-England, or any of the Ports thereof, any sorts of Fish whatsoever, without paying any Custom, or other duty for the same.  
And it is further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act is to continue until the five and twentieth of December, which shall be in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty nine, and no longer.   

LONDON: Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highness, 1657.