Obs. [? STAPLE sb.2; but the precise reference is not clear.] Fish not thoroughly cured; = GREEN-FISH 1.
1477. Pat. Roll 16 Edw. IV., II. 17 d. Nauis … le Jacob de Hamburghe … cum viginti et sex Milibus Stokfisshe duobus Milibus Staplefisshe et nouem doliis de Trane ad valenciam Sexcentarum librarum in partibus Islandie onusta.
1545. Rates Custom Ho., c vj. Staple fysshe.
1563. Norwich Deposit. (1905), 72. A firkin of eels, and 600 staplefish, shipped at Amsterdam.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Gen., viii. 23. As for Staple or Salt-Fish, there are those … who will maintain, that it will … set up the Fishery as high as ever it was, if every one in England able to dispend a Hundred Pounds per annum, were enjoyned to lay out Twenty Shillings a Year, in staple-fish.
a. 1682. J. Collins, Making Salt Eng., 90. Green-Fish (alias Staple fish as they call it,) cured with a good salt, proves excellent.
