The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

146
The Highland Monthly.
and treated with the Heritors of the river for a lease of the
salmond fishings of the River of Ness : that the Heritors had
concerted advantageous terms, and had gone into a con-
tract with John Burnet, merchant in Aberdeen, and with
and for him as Cautioner, Turner, Sheriff-Clerk of
Aberdeen, for the space of fifteen years, to which the
Heritors are bound, but in favour of leases " [evidentlymeant
for lessees] "that they may give it up at the end of the
first five years, and at three years, and years following, for
which they are obliged to pay at the Candlemas following
each year's fishing forty pounds sterling for each coble's
fishing, and, likewise, to pay feu-duties, cesses and
ministers' stipends ; and he likewise reported that care was
taken of the town's interest. That the inhabitants and
neighbourhood be served with salmond for family uses at
one shilling Scots per pound for the whole fishing season*
except that in the months of December, January, and
February they pay eighteen pennies Scots per pound.
And the said report having been duly considered by the
Session as having a half coble of the river fishing, and the
advantageous terms made for the Heritors, they approve
thereof, and appoint the Provost, in name of the ministers
and elders of the Kirk-Session, and in name of the
Administrators for the Hospital Funds, to subscribe the
said contract in their name."
This very soon led to the Session's title to the fishing
and lands being disputed, for it is recorded in the Session
Minutes of 21st December, 1756, as follows:— "The
Hospital Treasurer reported that upon the day of
,
a summonds of Reduction and Declarator at the
instance of George Baillie, surgeon, the eldest son and heir
of the deceast John Baillie, W.S., as representing Baillie
James Roy Dunbar, for finding the Rights and Securities,
given by the said deceast Baillie James Roy Dunbar for
payment and satisfaction of the Mortification made by
Provost Alex. Dunbar to the Hospital for the poor of the
Burgh, to be satisfied and extinct by the possession of the