A true narration of the royall fishings of Great Brittaine and Ireland.: Instituted Anno 1632, and prosecuted by the Right Honourable, Philip, Earle of Pembrook and Montgomery, and his associats, untill Anno 1640, from the river of Thames. Whereunto is added a discovery of new trades, for the employing of all the poore people and vagrants in the kingdomes. / By Simon Smith, agent for the royall fishing.

Whereas it is reported that the Herring Fishing by Busses is unprofitable, alledging that the Lord Marshall, and the Lord Chamberlaines asso∣ciations have lost their stockes, in their Fishing Businesse, I answer and say.

THat the cause of the consumption of their stocks, was by their improper disburse∣ments, mannaged by unskilful Factors, buil∣ding of Barkes, instead of Busses, which were not fit for that performance, and send∣ing them, and other great ships laden with Merchandizes, and many Factors, which wasted & consumed their stocks unto the Ilands, of the Lewis and Sheteland, applying themselves in a way of coaping with the Ilanders 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 Her∣rings, and stoage of their Nets, Caske, salt, and other provisions, it hapned that the Herrings failed to come into those loughes, whereby their great charges and freights and wages were all lost: and being afterwards made knowne, 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. Chamber∣lains associats, whose under-writings being in 7 years pay∣ments by equall portions, prevented the losing of their whol Srock; but caused them to detain their two last pay∣ments, yet the L. Chamberlan, & some of his associats, have prosecuted that businesse of the Herring Fishing, with Busses in the North seas, where the Netherlanders doe con∣stantly Fish, which is to this day continued by the Lord Chamberlaines Agent, to the reliefe of many poore peo∣ple; but the want of Stock, and interruption by the Dunkerker, although it hath hindred the prosperity and growth thereof, yet it hath discovered the action it selfe to be very good in all respects, and to bee embraced and cherished, as for Directions for the Herring Fishing.

Touching the proportion and charge of a Busse, with all the particulars belonging thereto, I referre unto the Booke called Britiaines Busse, which exactly and truly sets downe, both the qualities and quantities of all things belonging thereunto.

The manner of the Fishing.

The Busse of 70 Tuns, which can stow but 30 lastes of Herring Barrels, which is 360 barrels, in regard of the Stoage for the Nets, and other provisions, and must have 55 deep sea nets, of 4 deepings to each net, and each dee∣ping being 70 Masses, at the first setting out, and must have 55 Nets more in readinesse at returne, leaving the o∣thers to be newed and tanned, and fitted for the last going out againe, and so for Caske, Salt, and all other provisi∣ons to be ready for the quicker dispatch.

The number of men and youthes imployed in this Busse is 19. viz. 10 Fishers, Gippers, Salters and Coopers, 6 common men for labour, and three Countrey youths for Apprentices.

The whole monethly 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 barrell of Herring he takes.

The victualling reckoned for two moneths at first set∣ting out, which is the time of taking Summer Herring (called Seasticks) and then expected back unto the Mag∣gazeene againe.

The places of the Fishing are

First at Sheteland in Cullero and Brutio, Sowndes, which is our Kings Dominions, at which coaste the Herrings doe first rise, and shootes forwards to the Doggerbanke, which lyeth in the maine Ocean of those Northerne seas, and there all nations doe fish together, and about Bartholmew, they come into the Yarmouth Seas.

This can give no offence to the Hollander, being its free in GODS high way (which is the Ocean) for all Nations to Fish.

But if it please our Kings Majesty in the future, when as our English and Scottish Busses shall encrease, then to strengthen the priviledges of Sheteland, Yarmouth, and o∣ther places from the stranger, it may prove advantageous to his subjects, as by the right of his Royaltie, hee may justly doe.

The Vent of Herrings in forreine parts.

For the Summer Herrings, which are called Seasticks, (not being capeable of packing, by reason of their fat∣nesse)

are vented at Danske, Elbing, Coningsburg, Statteene, and other places, within the Baltick Seas, from whence is Masts, Hempe, Pitch, Tar, Waynskots, Clapbords, Deale, and Caske, usefull for the Fishery, or Gold, Sil∣ver, and Corne returned.

Also Hamburg, Dunkerke, Deepe, Nants, Rouen, St. Val∣leries, St. Mallowes, Burdeaux, 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, doe find their best vent and price, at Rouen.

For the latter Fishing, if Corved Herrings, the best vent of them is at Yarmouth, to make red Herrings for Leghorne, Genoua, and other parts within the Streights.

And what repact Herrings then shall bee made, are to be vented at Deepe Rouen, 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 Iune, and ceaseth about the middle of November, but from the time of going forth, untill the returne will bee full sixe mo∣neths.

The same Busse being set forth with hooke and line, for Cod and Lyng may be employed therein, untill the be∣ginning of March, and then returning, is to bee graved, cawlked and fitted out againe for the Herring Fishing.

The Countrey-men imployed, may after the Herring Fishing, returne to their Countrey imployment, or beat and dresse Hempe, 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 bee better preserved therein, then in a two deck Busse, and the charge is much lesse.

There is another sort, and that is called a Hooker, or Welboat, whose bayt is with Lampres, when as the her∣rings are not to be had for bayt.

That the Action is profitable in a way of Trading, may appeare by this Calculation hereunder named, according to good experiment made thereof.

The charge in setting forth of a Herring Busse, from the 15. of May, to the 15. Novem. being 6. months, will be at the highest rates.

FOr Caske and Hoopes 1000. Barrels at 2 s. per Barrel	100 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For Salt 1000. bushels at 2 s. per bushell,	100 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For Victualing and pettie-Tallie,	060 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For the six moneths wages to the Company,	120 l. 00. 00 d.
For the Master his allowance, 12 d. the Barrell	050 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For the repaire of the 55. Nets, at 3 l. per Net	165 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For extraordinary charges of Store-houses and Sallaries,	035 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For the repaire of the Busse, or freight at 10 l. by the mo.	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 cleare gaines for the Stocke 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 losse.

For the Salt and Caske not used, is	100 l. 00 s. 00 d.
For the Masters 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 pro∣visions, and cause the returne and dispatch of the Busse sooner, for the want of a Magazine hath beene the onely cause of hin∣dring 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 a∣gaine at the Magazine, thereby a greater quantity of Herrings may be taken before that the Busses make their first returne, and the same nets being imployed whilst they are wet, will performe it with lesse hurt to the nets, then if they should come away assoone as they have gotten their lading.

Also during their Fishings in the North Sea, the Busses may repaire unto Holy-Iland neere Barwicke, for drying their Nets, and receiving of fresh provisions of Salt and Caske, which will be a great accommodation in regard they may in seaven houres from thence be at their place of Fishings a∣gaine.

In few years the number of Busses increasing both of Eng∣lish and Scottish, they may be able to maintaine an Armado for their defence as the Holland Busses doe, which are alwayes in readinesse for the defence of the Kingdomes, if any sudden attempt should hereafter happen, which the Spanish Fleet that came lately into the Downes, found by wofull experi∣ence, It hath beene observed that at Shetland which is the Ran∣dezvous of the Hollands Busses in the moneth of Iune, yearely hath beene to the number of six and twenty hundred Busses, being enjoyned not to put their Nets into sea before the 15. day of Iune.

And this yeare 1641. the Netherlanders have sent forth 1900. Busse, 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 poore people which they set on worke, at the severall Townes and places whereto they belong in beating and dressing of Hempe, spynning of twine, brayding of deepings, making of Nets, Ropes, Caske, and o∣ther

provisions, building and repairing of the Busses and the like, is not so little, as 40. thousand families at home, besides their forraigne imployment in the way of Merchandizing which ariseth thereby, and is of greater consequence unto the States then the Indies to the King of Spaine.

This Fishing imployment is with a smaller Stocke, lesse danger, neerer at hand, and quicker dispatch then any o∣ther, 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 Kingdome that gi∣veth so universall imployment.

And if this businesse of the Herring Fishing were taken into due consideration, and made a nationall worke, the poor people and vagrants, in, and about all Citties, Townes, and other places, may be kept in worke to get their livings by the beating and dressing of hempe, spinning of twine, and bra∣ding of deepings, for making of Nets, Lines, Norsels, Ropes, Caske. and other provisions, for the furnishing of a Maga∣zene in each port, where any Busses shall bee built, or set forth according to the manner of the Hollanders, who there∣by have a flourishing Common-wealth, and doe not suffer an idle person among them.

And if those men that live wholly by their money trade, would imploy their stockes, ot some part thereof in this ser∣vice of the Common-wealth, to set up this Fishing Trade, in any one of the particulars, either by buying Hempe and making deeping to sell, or in building of Busses to sell, or Caske, or providing Salt, or setting up a Magazine for the victualing and furnishing with the needfulls, or will buy the Herring from the Fisher-men and vent them, or will set up a Bancke to furnish poor people with small summes of money on their pawnes, at eight pence, whereby the spynners and Brayders, and others, may imploy themselves in any one of

the said Manufactures; they would find a greater gaine 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. be∣stowed in hempe will produce 300. li. weekely, by the Manufactures thereof.

FINIS.