230 THE ICHTHYOLOGY OF BANFFSHIRE, 



busy scene, althougli it may not be very agreeable to the olfactory nerves 

 of a person that is rather-fastidious. 



Leach's Hc^'ring, (Clupea Leachii.) — ''There can be no doubt that the 

 Herring which is to be met with almost every winter in the Moray Frith, in 

 small numbers, is the one noticed by Yarrell under this name." — Rev. G. 

 Gordon. 



Sprat, (Clupea sprattus.) — "Garvies." This is not so common on the 

 Banff coast as farther up the Frith, where, during some seasons, it is 

 caught in great abundance. During last autumn they were taken in cart 

 loads to Inverness: they are used as bait. 



Twaite Shad, (Alosa finta.) — '"Rock Herring." Several of thesfe have 

 been found. 



Cod, (Morrhua vulgaris.) — ^"Keelin," or "Codlin." This forms a very 

 productive fishing: the usual method of fishing is by the line. Some 

 time ago, the fishermen sailed with them, when cured, to the markets on 

 the east coast, such as Aberdeen, etc., but this is now rendered unnecessary. 

 On such occasions, the 'gain sooth,' as they called it, they were in the 

 habit of bringing back a deal of stoneware with them; for all of them 

 have a very strong propensity of having their 'bench' or 'benches' well 

 stocked with all sorts of plates, cups and saucers, etc. A fisherman's 

 house is quite a display in this line. 



Haddock, (Morrhua seglefinus.) — This constitutes the chief fishing through 

 the whole year, except during the "Herrin'-time," and then it is pursued 

 by old men and boys, who are unfit for the heavy work of the Herring 

 Buckie, famous for its Yellow Haddocks, is situated in Banffshire. The mode 

 of curing the Haddock is as follows: — The fish is split up, and laid in 

 salt for twenty -four hours or thereabout; it is then taken out of the salt 

 and allowed to dry for a little, or, as they call it, 'to dreep;' it is then 

 hung in the smoke of wood. In many places they have small smoking 

 houses, but in the poor and less refined houses they hang them in the 

 chimney. Formerly they were carried by the women, in creels, into the 

 inland districts and towns, and disposed of either for money or barter, in 

 the shape of meal, potatoes, etc.; they left the fishing villages very early 

 in the morning, so that they were far inland before day-break; they went 

 in crowds of ten, twenty, thirty, and more; and commonly sung their 

 peculiar sea songs to beguile the weary way. A happy, merry, noisy crew 

 they formed; the sight of such health, happiness, mirth, and honest industry 

 made one's heart glad. For some time past there has prevailed a great 

 scarcity of this valuable fish, but during last autumn they appeared in 

 much greater numbers, but of small size. 



Bib, (Morrhua lusca.) — Has been found at Gamrie. 



Power Cod, (Morrhua minuta.) — This little fish was first observed in the 



