HERKING. 106 



and the belief that the largest Herrmgs are to be found at 

 a distance from the coast, the fishery is often pursued at a 

 considerable distance, from which, consequently, the return to 

 shore cannot be speedy, it is the custom to sprinkle tlie 

 newly-caught fish with salt, by which means also they are in 

 the best condition for being smoked, for which process the 

 largest fish are always preferred. 



There is another mode of fishing for Herrings, which is 

 conducted on a much less extensive scale, and which is 

 founded on the knowledge that these fish often come near 

 the shore, where, especially in rough weather, it would not 

 be safe for a drift-boat to follow them. It consists in moorinsr 

 a few nets without their being attached to a boat; but we 

 believe that on several accounts this practice is not sanctioned 

 by the law; as, we may venture to say also, however ancient, 

 ought not to be those fixed erections or stations termed yairs 

 and cruives, on the beach, within which the fish are kept 

 enclosed when the tide has ebbed and left them dry. 



It appears that a scan of some sort is employed on the 

 coast of Ireland, but, as described, is much less skilfully 

 contrived than the Pilchard scan of Cornwall; and if in 

 general use it would interfere greatly with the success of the 

 drift fishery, by contracting the space within which the latter 

 could be emj)loyed. We believe also that not long since 

 ingenuity has contrived to render the trawl effective in the 

 fishery for Herrings, by using it somewhat on the principle of 

 a moving stow-net. The gaping and enormous bag is sunk 

 to the proper depth by a rope, and in this condition is 

 carried along among the hosts of fish by the moving vessel. 

 This method of fishing ought not to be practised within a 

 limited distance from the older forms of fishing with drift-nets. 

 In the great work of Duhamel on fislieries a lengthened 

 account is given of the various ways of catching Herrings 

 along the coasts of Europe, but none of them are superior to 

 the methods practised in England. 



Contrary to the custom of Cornwall as regards the Pilchard, 

 where, except those which are sold to the public for family 

 use, every master of a boat cures his own fish, in Scotland 

 and the north of England the produce of the night is disposed 

 of to professional fish-curers; and upwards of a hundred 

 VOL. IV. ' P 



