Sc. [Of uncertain etymology: crann is used in Gaelic in same sense, and it has been suggested that it is the Gaelic crann ‘lot,’ and was applied orig. to the ‘lot’ or share of fish that fell to each man engaged.] A measure of capacity for fresh herrings as caught; fixed by the Fisheries Board at 371/2 gallons (about 750 fish).
Up to 1815 the cran was measured by heaping full a herring-barrel with the ends taken out, which was then lifted, leaving the heap on the ground or floor. In 1816, the Commissioners for the Herring Fishery fixed the capacity of the ‘cran’ at 42 gallons, Old Wine Measure, which in 1832 was raised to 45 gallons, 42 gallons when ‘pined’ being found insufficient to make a barrel of bung-packed herrings. In 1852 the contents were given in Imperial measure as 371/2 gals., making, when pined, a barrel of 30 gals.
1797. Statist. Acc. Scotl., XIX. 282. (Lewis) They … bought the herring … at the great price of from 9 s. to 12 s. per crane, (which is the full of a barrel of green fish, as taken out of the net).
1815. Act 55 Geo. III., c. 94 § 13. If … any cran or measure not so marked … shall be made use of … in the British herring fishery.
1852. Board of Fisheries Notice (May, 15), The Commissioners for the Herring fishery … do hereby give notice that from and after the date hereof, the Cran shall be of the contents or capacity of Thirty-seven Gallons and One Half Gallon Imperial Standard Measure…. That it shall be made of Oak Staves … that it shall be bound with Six good Iron hoops, [etc.].
1870. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 Sept., 4/2. The catch for the season is now nearly 90,000 crans.
