Of the Tlening Fishcr}j. 22 J 



on their coasts, where there are great quantities of shottcn 

 herrings. Bat should the Irish be wrong in allowing it, it 

 does not follow that the French should imitate them. 



On the other side, the herring merchants, who applied 

 for these prohibitions, had probably their own advantage 

 in view, viz. the selling their fish dear, rather than that of 

 commerce. They alleged that shottcn herrings were un- 

 wholesome, and caused diseases. But there is no founda- 

 tion for this assertion, although we shall readily grant that 

 they are not as pleasing food as full herrings. 



And as to the third plea, viz. that the fishing for her- 

 rings after December was destructive of the species, it was 

 a very nugatory one, not only because the quantity of her- 

 rings that the fishermen can take is a mere trifle compared 

 w iih the immense quantities of them that are destroyed by 

 multitudes of fish that feed upon them, but also because, 

 were the nuiltiplication of the species to be considered, it 

 would be much more proper to prohibit the fishing for full 

 herrings. 



'I'he only plausible reason for making tlie above-men- 

 tioned regulations was, that, as shottcn herrings are not as 

 good as full ones when salted, it was to be apprehended, 

 that if the taking and salting them were allo\\cd it would 

 bring all the salted herrings of the Channel into disrepute; 

 which would be very hurtful to trade. But still it is hard 

 that the poor should be deprived of an article of food wliich 

 could be procured verv cheap. 



The fishermen of Dieppe, having represented that her- 

 rings were absolutely neccssaiy for baiting their hooks, have 

 obtained leave to fish for them with a tew small boats, under 

 condition of cutting oft' the heads and tails of such as thev 

 should take. This favour has been granted also to some 

 other ports. Now, if a regulation of this kind were gene- 

 rally adopted, it would be of great service to the fishermen 

 and to the poor, without injuring the herring trade. For, 

 by taking care that the heads of such herrings as arc caught 

 alter December should be cut off, it will be easy to distin- 

 guish the 0(jod ones from those of an inferior kind, and t!ic 

 purchasers of salt herrings will be sure not to be imposed 

 upon. 



Of the Circiumtances tlionghf to Icfavotirahlc to the Herring 

 lu^htry. 



The fishery is expected to be good, when after a troubled 

 sea there conus on a calm, accompanied with a mist or 

 thick j'oir ; uhtu the wiud blows Iroui the liorlli or north- 

 west. 



