HERRING CURING. 45 



These rooms, however, are unlike those of dwelling- 

 houses, being formed by open partitions, which rest 

 upon strong baulks of timber spanning the house 

 from front to back, about seven feet from the brick 

 floors. The partitions consist of substantial studs 

 placed about four feet apart, reaching from the 

 baulks to the roof ; across these are fastened a series 

 of horizontal ledges at equal distances, running 

 parallel to each other from top to bottom, upon 

 which the spits, strung with herrings, are hung, and 

 exposed to the currents of air and smoke as long as 

 requisite. These are called " loves ; " the word, 

 doubtless, being derived from the German word 

 "Luft," the //being softened into v, as in knife, knives : 

 the word means air ; " Luften," to expose to the air. 

 Oblong apertures are left in the walls at the ends of 

 the rooms when building the houses, and fitted with 

 moveable shutters to control the currents of air, and 

 to regulate the heat during smoking. Barfe houses are 

 spacious rooms with brick floors, in which the herrings 

 are received, salted, and washed. Spacious chambers 

 are provided for stowing the numerous empty 

 packages required, which are made between the fish- 

 ing seasons, in order that the people may be free to 

 attend solely to the work incidental to curing when 

 the fish come to hand. The pickling pits may be 

 likened to underground cellars, the walls and floors 

 of which are lined with cement, in order that they 

 may be watertight. They are covered with strong 

 planking resting on cross-beams, and are for storing 

 the fish not required for immediate use. Storage 



