268 NOTHING BUT HERRING. [< HAP. vi. 



lost, and thousands of pounds' worth of netting and boats 

 destroyed. On such occasions the gladdening sights of the 

 herring-fishery are changed to wailing and sorrow. It is 

 no wonder that the heavens are eagerly scanned as the boats 

 marshal their way out of the harbour, and the speck on the 

 distant horizon keenly watched as it grows into a mass of 

 gloomy clouds. As the song says, " Caller herriri' " represent 

 the lives of men ; and many a despairing wife and mother 

 can tell a sad tale of the havoc created by the summer gales 

 on our exposed northern coast. 



From the heights of Pulteneytown, overlooking the quays 

 and curers' stations, one has before him, as it were, an 

 extended plain, covered with thousands and tens of thousands 

 of barrels, interspersed at short distances with the busy scene 

 of delivery, of packing, and of salting, and all the bustle and 

 detail attendant on the cure. It is a scene difficult to describe, 

 and has ever struck those witnessing it for the first time with 

 wonder and surprise. 



Having visited Wick in the very heat of the season, and 

 for the express purpose of gaining correct information about 

 this important branch of our national industry, I am enabled 

 to offer a slight description of the place and its appurtenances. 

 Travellers by the steamboat usually arrive at the very time 

 the " herring- drave " is making for the harbour ; and a 

 beautiful sight it is to see the magnificent fleet of boats 

 belonging to the district, radiant in the light of the rising 

 sun, all steadily steering to the one point, ready to add a 

 large quota to the wealth of industrial Scotland. As we 

 wend our way from the little jagged rock at which we are 

 landed by the small boat attendant on the steamer, we obtain 

 a glimpse of the one distinguishing feature of the town the 

 herring commerce. On all sides we are surrounded by 

 herring. On our left hand countless basketfuls are being 

 poured into the immense gutting- troughs, and on the right 



