HERRING. 187 



numbers, that the fishing is carried on, which is of such great 

 and national importance. " And here," Mr. Couch observes, 

 " we cannot but admire the economy of Divine Providence, 

 by which this and several other species of fish are brought to 

 the shores, within reach of man, at the time when they are 

 in their highest perfection, and best fitted to be his food." 



The mode of fishing for Herrings is by drift-nets, very 

 similar to those employed for taking Mackerel and Pilchard, 

 with a slight difference in the size of the mesh. The net is 

 suspended by its upper edge from the drift-rope by various 

 shorter and smaller ropes, called buoy-ropes ; and consider- 

 able practical skill is required in the arrangement, that the 

 net may hang with the meshes square, smooth, and even, in 

 the water, and at the proper depth ; for, according to the 

 wind, tide, situation of their food, and other causes, the 

 Herrings swim at various distances below the surface. 



The size of the boat used depends on the distance from 

 shore at which the fishery is carried on ; but, whether in 

 deep or in shallow water, the nets are only in actual use 

 during the night. It is found that the fish strike the nets in 

 much greater numbers when it is dark than while it is light : 

 the darkest nights, therefore, and those in which the surface 

 of the water is ruffled by a breeze, are considered the most 

 favourable. It is supposed that nets stretched in the day- 

 time alarm the fish, and cause them to quit the places where 

 that practice is followed ; it is therefore strictly forbidden. 



A visit to the Herring-fishers on the west coast of Ire- 

 land is thus described by the author of " Wild Sports in 

 the West." " Having lighted our pipes, and procured our 

 boat-cloaks, we left the pier-head in the four-oared galley. 

 The night was unusually dark and warm ; not a breath of 

 wind was on the water ; the noise of the oars, springing in 

 the coppered rullocks, was heard for a mile off, and the 

 whistle of sandpipers and curlews, as they took wing from 



