



The Herring Fishery. 43 



fill the bays and friths on the north-east coast of Scotland. 

 During the herring season there are upwards of 15,000 

 fishing-boats, manned by about 62,000 men, employed on 

 the coast of Scotland every year, and who land their fish, 

 when they are successfully cured, barrelled, and the bulk of 

 them is sent away to foreign countries. These delicious 

 fish, although caught, cured, and sold by Presbyterian 

 fishermen, neither pious Neapolitan, Portuguese, nor even 

 the good Pope himself, ever hesitates to enjoy the relish 

 of a heretical pilchard or herring. 



The Herring Fishery of Scotland, Mr. Bremner, in his 

 work on "The Industries of Scotland," gives an interesting 

 description of the outfit and results : 



" During the fishing season Wick presents one of the 

 most interesting scenes to be witnessed in the whole range 

 of industry. In the course of the afternoon the crews of 

 the boats moored in the harbours or anchored in the bay 

 prepare to start for the night's fishing. The nets are got 

 on board, the masts are hoisted, the sails set, and soon the 

 bay becomes shrouded in dark-brown canvas. With a 

 breeze from the south-east, the departure of the boats is a 

 splendid sight, for then they have to tack out ; and the 

 spectators are favoured by beholding a regatta on a grander 

 scale than any to be witnessed elsewhere. The movement 

 seaward is simultaneous along the coast, and by the time 

 the last of the fleet gets outside the heads of Wick Bay, a 

 dark line of boats extends continuously from Duncansby 

 Head to the head of Clyth, a stretch of a dozen miles. 

 Generally those in the boats have no fixed intention as to 

 what spot they shall select for casting out their nets, and 

 taking their draw from Neptune's lottery. If a good haul 

 was previously got at a certain part, those who get it 

 endeavour to return to that part ; but in most cases the 



