122 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



interval between the two fisheries is of very short 

 duration, often only a week; and on resuming work, 

 the summer fish are found at only a few miles from the 

 shore. The condition of these fish leads to the belief 

 that they are only the remains of the spring shoals, as 

 they are of the same description as those previously 

 caught, and without any roes ; but they are rather 

 fatter. The midsummer herrings are always more 

 valuable than those taken in the spring; and it is 

 thought by many fishermen and others interested in 

 the supply of marketable produce that great injury is 

 done to the later fishery by so many fish being taken 

 early in the year. A short supply of summer herrings 

 has therefore been frequently accounted for by the 

 preceding fishery having been largely worked. On the 

 other hand, it has been contended that the summer fish 

 are often as abundant as they ever were before the 

 spring fishery came into fashion. Eecent experience, 

 however, does not support this statement, as with a 

 more or less successful series of spring fisheries, the 

 summer herrings have been exceedingly scarce for the 

 last seven years. 



The second, or midsummer fishery, is continued till 

 about the middle of July ; and no herrings are after- 

 wards caught by these fishermen until the great autumn 

 fishing begins about the first week in September. It 

 will be seen from the above sketch of the general 

 seasons for herring fishing, the particulars of which 

 are the result of our personal inquiries at the several 

 localities, that the shoals are on some part or other of our 

 coasts almost throughout the year ; and it agrees with 

 the statement of the Billiugsgate salesmen, that there are 

 herrings in the market nearly all the year round, but in 

 much greater abundance during particular seasons. 



