336 DEEP-SKA FISHING. 



exempt tlian other people from the prejudices against 

 anything which may appear, however sh'ghtly, to affect 

 their particular interests. With very few exceptions 

 they are coast fishermen ; for, although they often go 

 far out to sea in the exercise of tlieir calling, they do 

 not remain there for days and weeks at a time as is tlie 

 lot of those who are engaged in some of the deep-sea 

 fisheries on the English coast. It might perhaps be 

 considered an insult if we were to inquire how many 

 of the Scotch fishermen are teetotallers when on shore ; 

 but however attractive the national drink may be to 

 them, it does not prevent money being generally saved, 

 or the fisheries being carried on with energy whenever 

 there is a chance of doing so. 



The recent publication of the Scotch Board of 

 Fisheries' Report for 1873 enables us to add a few 

 words more about the fisheries for that year. 



The herring fishery is stated to have been the largest 

 on record, " alike in cure, in export, and in branding." 

 939,233 barrels were cured; 668,008 barrels ex]3orted; 

 and 485,274 barrels branded. The brand fees amounted 

 to 7254/. 11.5?. Qd., exceeding by more than 200/. the 

 sum received in 1872, when, for the first time, tliat 

 source of income reached 7000/. The fishery was not 

 uniforndy good at all the stations, but varied on both 

 the east and west coasts. The only complaint appears 

 to have been that a larger proportion than usual of 

 small fish was taken, and especially on the east coast. 



There was also an increase in the number of cod and 

 ling taken ; and it is satisfactory to note that this was 

 not produced by fish caught at Iceland and Faroe by 

 the Shetland fishermen, but was the result chiefly of 

 more successful work on the home ^rounds near the 



