Fisheries, etc. Act 1663

Reasons for passing this Act.

Regulations concerning the packing of Herrings of English catching put to Sale.; Head Officers of Ports from which Ships proceed to fish, to appoint a competent number of Packers.; The Duty of such Packers.; To take an Oath.; Such Head Officers not appointing and swearing Packers; Penalty £100.

For the prevention of abuses in the packing and ordering of Herrings and bringing that Commoditie into credit in Forreigne Parts beyond the Seas Be it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That from and after the First day of August One thousand six hundred sixtie fower noe white or read Herrings of English catching shall be putt to sale in England Wales or in the Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede but what shall be packed in lawffull Barrells or Vessells, and which shall be well truely and justly laid and packed, and shall be of one time of takeing salting saveing or drying, and equally well packed in the midst and every part of the Barrell or Vessell, and by a sworne Packer, And the Barrell or Vessell marked or branded by such sworne Packer with a marke or brand denoteing the gage of the Barrell or Vessell and the quantity quality and condition of Herrings packed therein, and the Towne or Place where they were packed, And the Bailiffes of Great Yarmouth for the time being and the Maior Bailiffes or other Head Officer for the time being of every Port Haven or Creeke out of which any Vessells or Shipps doe proceede to fish for Herrings are hereby authorized and required before the First day of July in the yeare One thousand six hundred sixtie fower and before the First day X1 in every yeare after to appoint for their respective Haven Port or Creeke a competent number of able and experienced Packers to view and packe all such white or read Herrings of English catching as shall be brought into their Port Haven or Creeke and well and truely to marke and brand the Barrells or Vessells in which they shall be packed with such marke or brand as is above directed and to administer to them yearely an Oath (which Oath they are hereby authorized and appointed to give to them) for the well and true doeing thereof according to this Act. And in case the said Bailiffes of Great Yarmouth or the Maior Bailiffes or other Head Officer for the time being of any such Port Haven or Creeke shall not appoint and sweare such Packers before such time in every yeare as is by this Act required they shall for every defaulte forfeite the Summe of One hundred Pounds of lawfull Money of England, One Moyetie to His Majestie His Heires and Successors and the other Moyetie to him or them that shall informe or sue for the same in any Court of Record by Bill Plaint or other Action wherein noe Essoigne Protection or Wager in Law shall be allowed.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: of July O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]