CHAP, vi.] THE LATE MR. METHUEN. 259 



every herring was sold. From ten to twelve thousand tons of 

 fresh herrings are sent from Dunbar alone, during the season, 

 into inland districts, being distributed by means of the railway, 

 and also by cadgers. 



Many of the Scottish herring-curers are men of enterprise 

 and intelligence. The late Mr. Methuen of Leith may be 

 cited as an example of the class : he was of humble parentage, 

 but had the good fortune, by perseverance and industry, to 

 become the greatest herring-curer in the world. He raised 

 his gigantic business on a small foundation, which his father 

 and he laid at Burntisland in Fife. His business grew apace ; 

 his yards overflowed into the streets, and his piles of barrels 

 soon blocked up the passages. He gathered knowledge of his 

 business from all who could give it him ; and in after years, 

 when his trade had grown to be the greatest of its kind, he 

 found this knowledge of great service to him. He was soon 

 compelled, however, by the extension of his connection, to seek 

 larger head-quarters than he could obtain at Burntisland. In 

 1833, therefore, he removed to Leith, the seaport of Edin- 

 burgh, where he continued to carry on his business till the 

 time of his death. For thirty years he was at the head of the 

 herring-trade in Britain, and was so energetic and reputable 

 in his dealings as really to command success, in which, of 

 course, he was materially aided by his rapidly-increasing 

 capital. He created curing-stations, and so forced business. 

 Wherever he saw an eligible spot, he marked it out as a place 

 to cure in. His business widened and widened, till thousands 

 of the Scottish fishing-boats were ready to obey his behests ; 

 and, not contented with what he had achieved in his own 

 country, he invaded England, and commenced stations along 

 the east coast and on the Isle of Man, having some time before 

 established business relations on the coast of Norway. Mr. 

 Methuen took a warm interest in all questions connected with 

 the herring-fishery, and may be said to have carried on busi- 



