CONCLUSIONS OF HERRING COMMISSIONERS. 115 



sliould study the evidence given to our Commission, and 

 also our report an analysis of which, as well as the con- 

 clusions at which we arrived, is now given. 



Conclusions of the Herring Commissioners : — 



" 1. The herring fishery on the coast of Scotland, as 

 a whole, has increased and is increasing. 



" 2. Legislation in past periods has had no appreci- 

 able effect. 



'' 3. Nothing that man has yet done, and nothing that 

 man is likely to do, has diminished, or is likely to 

 diminish, the general stock of herrings in the sea. 



" 4. Either from the operations of man, however, or 

 from some other cause, the herrings have been de- 

 terred from entering the firths and sea-lochs of Scot- 

 land in the same numbers as formerly. 



'' 5. The fishery for herrings has in consequence 

 been gradually prosecuted farther and farther fi'om the 

 land, especially on the east coast. 



"6. The supply of herrings to the public market 

 has not been injuriously affected by this circumstance. 



" 7. It is, therefore, inexpedient either to impose or 

 to continue any restriction on the free action of fisher- 

 men with the view of increasing the stock of herrings- 

 in the sea. 



"8. It is, consequently, desirable to repeal the sec- 

 tions which nominally impose an annual close season 

 and a law of mesh on the Scotch hemng fishermen. 



" 9. "We think it desirable, however, to continue the 

 prohibition of the use of movable nets fishing for her- 

 rings in Scotland on the Sabbath, but such prohibition 

 should not be accompanied by the heavy penalty which 

 now attaches its infraction. 



" 10. As a mere matter of police it is desirable to 

 prohibit the use of trawl nets (seine nets) in the Loch 



