HERRING FISHERIES. 229 



there is every probability of a fuccefsful fifliery, 

 either on the Lewis coaft or that of the Mainland. 

 But if the winds happen to be cafterly, or within 

 the eaftern points, as is often the cafe towards the 

 end of harveft, there is little chance of a winter 

 fifhery, becaufe, as before obferved, the herrings 

 keep out in the main ocean. Nature, in this refpecl:, 

 gives the Irifh fifhers a manifeft advantage over the 

 Scots. The fhoals, after having cleared the Scot- 

 tifh feas, whether their voyage hath been on this 

 fide the Long Ifland, or on the weft fide, have to 

 encounter a ftill more turbulent fea, owing to the 

 great weight and fwell of the Atlantic being oppofed 

 by the lofty coaft of Donnegal ; which, with the 

 jarring currents and tides, interrupt the progrefs of 

 the herrings, who, fatigued and weak, are glad to 

 take flicker in the openings or lochs of that coaft. 

 This circumftance gives the Irifti an abfolute cer- 

 tainty of an annual fifhery, and that fifhery being 

 drawn towards one point, enables the adventurers to 

 double the gains of their neighbours, and with lefs 

 trouble, hazard, and expence. 



Having thus ftated the natural, as well as parlia- 

 mentary dilcouragements and difficulties, attending 

 the northern or Hebride fishery, an eftirnate of the 

 cxpence a.nd gains properly follows. 



p 3 Exfencts 



