298 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



shelter, and that in attempting to enter such small 

 fishery harbours as have been constructed, both men 

 and boats have sometimes perished within sight of their 

 homes. 



The situation of Wick particularly exposes it to the 

 effects of the winter storms, and deep-sea fishing on 

 that coast, whether it be by line or net, is both dan- 

 gerous and uncertain at that season. It is hardly less 

 so occasionally in summer; for any difficulty there 

 may be in finding shelter under ordinary circumstances 

 is greatly increased by the large number of fishing 

 boats then working from that station. 



The construction of a deep-water harbour at Wick 

 is therefore a matter of the greatest importance to the 

 fisheries, and energetic measures have accordingly been 

 taken to carry ont the work. But although a large 

 sum of money has been provided for the purpose, partly 

 by the British Fisheries Society, who have a property 

 in the harbour, and partly by advances from the Public 

 Loan Commissioners, the completion of the piers has 

 been seriously retarded ; for the terrific force of the 

 waves during some of the winter gales has, time after 

 time, and notably in 1870, destroyed much of the work 

 accomplished during the fine weather, thus affording 

 strong evidence of how valuable would be the shelter 

 if the harbour could be completed and made perma- 

 nently secure. The work is still in progress, and we 

 may hope that before long all the difficulties will be 

 overcome. 



The importance of fishery harbours on this east coast 

 may be judged of by the difficulties it is thought worth 

 while to battle against in their construction ; and these 

 may be estimated by the amount of money it has been 

 necessary to raise in order to overcome them. Govern- 



