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 exprest: 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 Lochs included, at any time after the 20. day of September, not beginning sooner to fish for export in these Precincts, nor for Domestick use, except as is here­after expresly provided; providing alwayes, 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 doe, and salted with such Salt as they do, and to be re-pack'd, and at their Re-packing, to be overseen by any appointed by the Managers of the Society for that effect, who is to [...]t a burnt Mark upon each Barrel, if they be sufficient and fit for Export, and is to be entred, 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 Lochs: 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 eff [...]ct, any intending for these Fishings is hereby oblieged proportionally to take off the Barrels provided by the Company, they still being good and sufficient, and at as easie rates as others [...]ffords them. And likewayes, all the Vessels intending for the north Lochs or Lews fishing, their Owners or [...]aughters are hereby oblieged 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 r [...]turn, in that case, they are oblieged to take an authorized Couper, who must give his oath to the Directors for making of the Herrings in manner before-mentioned, 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 Lochs, within the Mules of Galloway and Kintyre only improven by them, that Countrey 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 Herri [...]gs b [...]fore the time limited, upon pretence they are for domestick use, hath them at all parts beyond seas be­fore the Company; and being unsufficient, as made in haste and not right cured, puts a dis-esteem upon the Com­panies Fish, spoils the Mercats abroad, and diminishes the quantity the Company would otherwayes make, and over-rates the early green Herrings at home. Therefore the said general Meeting of the fishing Society, do hereby prohibite and discharge all Merchants, Skippers, or Owners of any Vessel, Bark or Boat, Seamen, Coupers, or other Trade [...]men, Fisher, or any other person or persons whatsoever, to salt and barrell 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 barrells, with Spainish or French Salt shall be found, either in Ships▪ Barks, Boats, Couper-boats, or any other Vessel or Boat whatsoever, in any of the Lochs 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 confiscat for the use and behoove of the fishing Society; excepting alwayes all Noblemen, Gentle­men, and others, that do make and barrell Herrings for the proper use of their own respective families, provi­ding they intimate to the Overseer of the Company at Greenock, how many barrells they are to make, and give surety to him they shall be landed and expended accordingly within the countrey, and the said Overseer shall give Warrand for this effect: And any person whatsoever, who shall be found barrelling Herrings before the 20. of September, not having Warrand as said is, shall confiscat such Herrings and Barrells, 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 above-mentioned, 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 Priviledge of the Company. Extracted by me,