40 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



shape, called " swills," which hold five of the smaller 

 ones, that is, five hundred herrings ; twenty of these 

 swills making a " last." 



At this point the herrings come into the charge 

 of the fish salesman, who sells them by auction. As 

 previously noted, herrings, when on the march, occa- 

 sionally move in such close and compact order, and 

 with their outer lines so sharply defined, that nets 



YARMOUTH TROLLY FOR CARRYING FISH. 



shot within a few fathoms of each other differ very 

 widely in their catches. Sometimes a single haul 

 will give such a large quantity of fish that the boat 

 at once sets sail for her port. In 1882, the " Snaefell," 

 of Yarmouth, made such a haul, taking i8f lasts, or 

 247,000 herrings. The largest number landed, during 

 the same season, as the fruit of a single voyage, which 

 may include the shooting and hauling of the nets 

 several times, was brought in by the "Corisande," 



