340 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



caiiglit between Peel and the Calf of Man belong to tlie 

 same general shoals, come whence they may, there is 

 every reason to think tliat the herrings which appear 

 and spawn in Douglas Bay are, from their smaller size 

 even at a later period, distinct from those found on the 

 west and south of the island, and which are systemati- 

 cally fished for during the principal portion of the 

 Manx herring season. As the fishery on the eastern 

 side is only where the herrings visit certain parts of 

 Douglas Bay, apparently for the purpose of spawning, 

 the plan of grounding the nets is necessarily adopted ; 

 and however objectionable such a practice may be theo- 

 retically, the capture of these spawning fish has not 

 been shown to have any effect on subsequent fisheries. 

 As soon as the drift season has come to an end at the 

 Isle of Man the Manx boats proceed to the Irish coast 

 and take part in the herring fishery there in November 

 and December. 



There is very little curing done in the island, and 

 almost all the herrings caught on the Manx coast are 

 sent to Liverpool or Wales, the fisli usually receiving 

 a slight sprinkling of salt, just sufficient to preserve 

 them till they reach the market. They are generally 

 shipped in sailing vessels from Castletown. 



There is no regular mackerel fishery by drift-nets 

 on the Manx coast, but a few of these fish are taken 

 with the lierrings on the west side during June, July, 

 and August. The Manx fishermen, however, are an 

 enterprising and industrious race, and before the com- 

 mencement of their home herring season many of them 

 take their boats to the mackerel fishery at the south of 

 Ireland, and by steady attention to their work succeed 

 in earning a good deal of money if the season j)rove 

 favourable. In some years considerable numbers of 



