1S98.] Notes, 19 



FISHES. 



Extraordinary Run of Herrings in the IVIoy Estuary. 



Early last month the most extraordinary catch of herrings ever known 



on this part of the coast, was taken by the fishermen in this estuar}'. 



Nearly every autumn large schools of Herrings visit Killala Bay, to 



deposit their spawn, and after spawning occasionally enter the estuary, 



remaining inside for a night or tvv'O, if the weather keeps calm. On 



this occasion the multitudes of Herrings that came into the estuary 



must have, been enormous, as the catch of the various boats proved, 



nearly all loading their boats at the first haul, then, coming ashore 



delivered their fish, and as the fishing-ground was close by, went out 



again, and had a second haul before running, which is a most unusual 



occurrence in Herring-fishing. One yawl with a crew of six men, and 



train of six nets, on the first night of the fishing, took 7,500 in their first 



haul, then coming ashore and delivering their fish went out again, and 



shortening their nets, got 6,000 more when they hauled them between 



5 and 6 o'clock next morning. Nearly all the boats belonging to the 



estuary were successful in making two hauls during that first night's 



fishing, which is a most unusual occurrence, and what was stranger 



still, and almost unheard of was, that in several instances Herrings 



entered the nets in the daytime. One man told me that he had fish in 



his nets a little after 4 p.m., while Mr. Kirkwood, of Bartragh, said 



that three of his workmen went out about 3 p.m. in a small punt with 



only two nets, which they shot while the sun was shining brightly, and 



n a short time took into their boat 2,000 (a remarkable haul for two nets). 



They then came ashore, delivered their fish, went out again, and were 



nearly as successful in their second haul : and bringing their fish ashore, 



went out for the third time, and had a fine take before morning. 



The weather remaining calm, the Herrings stayed for several days, 

 and the large takes so glutted the markets, that they were sold in the 

 town of Ballina, as low as 9^/. and \s. per hundred. This great run of 

 fish appeared almost simultaneously on several parts of the coast At 

 Aughriss Head, on the Sligo coast, the quantities taken were so great, 

 that Herrings were hawked in carts about the country selling at ^d. 

 per hundred. While in Clew Bay, on the Ma)'0 coast, the takes were 

 so heavy, that Herrings were sold in Westport at 5^/. and ^d. per hundred. 

 After the schools left the estuary, they disappeared, not remaining any 

 time in the bay, but were replaced by others, and some have been taken 

 nearly every week since, but not in such large numbers. The last schools 

 ran far up the estuary, some fish being caught off the Shipping Quay, 

 five miles from the ba}-, and only one mile from the town of Ballina. 

 Some fish are in the estuary still, for to-day, when down at Bartragh 

 in my shooting punt, I saw Herrings rising all about the channel. 



Moyvievv, Ballina. ROBERT Warrein. 



