FIARS (a word said by Jamieson to be of Gothic origin, and to exist in the same form in Icelandic). The fiars prices in Scotland are the prices of the different kinds of 'grain of the growth of each county for the preceding crop, as fixed by the sentence of the sheriff, proceeding on the report of a,iury summoned for the Purpose. before whom the evidence of farmers and corn-dealers is produced. The values thus officially ascer tained serve as a rule for ascertaining the prices of grain in all contracts where they are not fixed by the parties; and in many sales it is agreed to accept the rates fixed by the fiars. Ministers' stipends, in so far as they consist of grain and crown dues, are also paid by the F. prices of the county for each year. With a view to the latter, F., in former times, were struck in the exchequer. An error in striking the F. will not afford a ground of suspension.
The form of procedure in " striking the fiars," as it is called, is regulated by act of sederuut, 21st Dee., 1723, renewed 29th Feb., 1728. The time fixed by this act for summoning the jury is between the 4th and 20th of Feb., and the verdict must be returned before 1st Mar., old style; which is generally considered too early, as before that time not much grain of the previous crop has been brought into the market. Mr. Barclay, sheriff-substitute of Perthshire, in his Digest, gives the following account of this difficult and delicate process as practiced in' his county: " In Perthshire, the fiars court is held on the last Friday of Feb., or the first Friday of Mar. The jury consists of eight heritors, a few farmers, and some neutral parties, especially one or two able to check the calculations. An experienced accountant is sworn, and acts as such, but is not on the jury, and is paid a fee from the county rates. The list of the jury is shifted every alternate year, thereby giving sufficient release from duty, and yet securing per sons skilled in the practice. Some years ago, it was arranged to take no juror who
either paid or received rents according to the liars; but this greatly limited the choice, and was complained of, and abandoned. All considerable dealers in Perthshire victual, whether resident in Perthshire or elsewhere, are uniformly summoned, and, in addition, every person whose name is given in by whatever person interested." As grain is com monly sold according to weight, one shilling being generally allowed on wheat for every on every bushel; on an application by the farmers, it was agreed to determine the classification by taking a certain weight as the point of division. The The first thing which the jury do is consequently to determine the point of weight. The witnesses are then sworn to the schedules, which they receive after harvest, and in which they insert every separate quantity of grain sold, with the dates and prices divided into first and second classes, according as the judgment of each witness dictates, and the weight of each parcel. The results of the separate schedules arc inserted by the accountant into a general schedule, which is summed up by the accountant, such members of the jury as are capable assisting him. The result constitutes the F. prices for the year. The same mode is not adopted in England; but weekly averages of all grain sold at public markets are ascertained and published in the Gazette, and this is without respect to the produce of particular counties. 9 Geo. IV. c. 60; 5 and 6 Vict. c. 14; 9 and 10 Vict. c. 22. See Historical Account of the Striking of the Fiars in Scotland, by George Paterson, esq., advocate, 1852.