# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_105850.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 20:32  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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Case

For the Encouragement of the Fisheries of the Isle of Man (parliament) by an act of the 26. Geo: 3. intitled "an act
for the more effectual encouragement of the British Fisheries" (Chap. 81. Sect^n 23) Granted a Bounty of one Shilling a Barrel,
for all such Herrings, caught by the Inhabitants thereof, as should be landed in the Island from any Boat or Vessel, and afterwards
properly Salted, Cured and packed, in manner directed by the said Act. &

In consequence of this act, the Inhabitants of the Island in 1787, received from the Deputy Receiver General the Bounty of one
Shilling a Barrel on Red and White Herrings without distinction — But to their great Surprise and disappointment the Deputy
Receiver General has refused paying the Bounty on Herrings cured Red for the year 1788, under an Idea that the Bounty in question is
confined meerly to White Herrings; He has also threatened to bring a Suit against the Inhabitants, for the bounty paid them on Red Herrings
in 1787.

It is to be observed that the Yarmouth and Liverpool Irish Curer's desirous of the Encouragement held out to the Inhabitants of the
Isle of Man — applied for and obtained an Act of Parliament in the 27^th of Geo: 3. (intitled) "an act to extend the provisions of an act made
"in the 26^th year of His present Majesty's Reign intitled an act for the more effectual encouragement of the British Fisheries" which Enacts to
Sect 14, Gives a Bounty of a Shilling a Barrel on Red and White Herrings — by the bye the effects of this act had previously no Members
at all — this Act (not extending to the Isle of Man) has occasioned the Officers to stop the payment of the Bounty on Red Herrings to the Inhabitants
of the Isle of Man). &

The Inhabitants conceiving that the Act of the 26^th Geo: 3. in their favour, should from sound policy, receive a liberal and benign
Construction, laid out large Sums of Money in extending the Red Herring Business. The Curing of White Herrings being comparatively an Object
of small Importance. &

Your Opinion therefore is desired, whether the Bounty of one Shilling a Barrel is payable on Herrings Cured Red
as well as White.

If only on White

Whether the Inhabitants can be compelled to bring so ruinously unreasonable an act to refund the Bounty already
received.

If the Inhabitants have received the
Bounty under a mistake of the Law they are liable to refund it. But the Questions
therefore depend upon the first, and in considering the first Question I have great
difficulty in answering it arising from this circumstance that the Bounty of
1^s a Barrel is to be paid for all such Herrings caught by the Inhabit^s of the Isle
of Man as are salted cured & packed in the manner directed by the act for
British caught Herrings, to which I understand is meant herrings caught
by Vessels which go on the fishery from Ports in Great Britain, & whether
the mode of Salting curing & packing directed by the act is such as is
used both with respect to red & white Herrings I don't understand the
Subject suffi^t to determine. If the like bounty of 1^s was paid upon
British caught Herrings under the act of 26 Geo. 3. red as well as White
I should think it w^d follow that the Inhab^ts of the Isle of Man may claim
upon both: If otherwise as to British caught Herrings I do think they could
not, for the Preamble of the Clause which gives them the Bounty, States

AP 143-6