shotten herring

1) A reference to fish that have spawned.

The term occurs in a list of items on which duty had to be paid in York: in 1510 one halfpenny was received for ylke barrell of shoton heringe. In Hull soon afterwards ‘shotten herring’ are contrasted with full herring

that is fish charged with roe: 1517 vj last full heryng and iij last shotyn heryng.

places York Hull
dates 1510 1517

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