FISHING IMPLEMENTS-MODE OF CAPTURE. 41 



which landed 2/J lasts, or 363,000 herring ; but such 

 takes are quite exceptional. 



The harvest of the sea differs very materially from 

 that of the land. When the season for in-gathering 

 comes round, the farmer, as he watches the weather 

 day by day, can form something of an estimate as 

 to the probable result of his labours. He may insure 

 his growing crops against loss by hail ; but the harvest 

 of the fishermen swims fathoms deep out of sight, 

 and no office will grant him an insurance policy upon 

 it until he has gathered it in, when he does not need 

 it. The fisherman may insure, at a considerable 

 premium, the hull and spars of his boat, but no office 

 will insure his nets, which may be torn to pieces by 

 some of the larger fish, or lost through storms ; 

 happy is he if he only loses his nets. Storms 

 in the North Sea are frequent and bitter, rising 

 suddenly, and often compelling the boats, though 

 fish may be abundant and the nets just shot, to leave 

 their nets and seek a place of shelter without delay. 

 November, which should give the largest and best 

 yield of herring to the Yarmouth fishermen, may be, 

 as in 1882, one continued succession of gales, not 

 enough to drive the fish quite away, but sufficient 

 to spoil the fishing in the very month when the fish 

 are at their best, and when they should be most 

 plentiful. Some years ago the Government sent out 

 an expedition to make a scientific investigation of 

 the bottom of foreign seas. The time occupied and 

 the distance traversed were considerable, and the 

 information gained very interesting to scientific 



