i8 



the fishermen to meet the growing demands of an increasing 

 population. State aid towards harbour improvement has 

 hitherto been most successful, when given in the form of 

 grants to supplement local efforts, or by loan at a low rate 

 of interest. Under this system, which I should like to see 

 extended, such harbours, and they are miserably inade- 

 quate, as are available for our Herring Fisheries, have been 

 mainly constructed. In Scotland generally, the fishermen 

 have shown a commendable spirit of self-reliance by com- 

 bining together to raise funds for the improvement of their 

 harbours. I have often been astonished at the efforts they 

 have made to enable them to participate in the small grant 

 annually given to the Scotch Fishery Board. 



I may mention one instance that lately came under my 

 notice. About two years ago I was visiting a small fishing 

 hamlet on the coast of Banffshire. I was told that the 

 fishermen were most anxious to raise a sum of 3,000, to 

 enable them, by the assistance of the Fishery Board, to 

 improve their harbour. I remarked to a friend who was 

 with me, that there seemed to be nobody but fishermen in 

 the place, and I expressed some doubt as to their ability 

 to raise the required sum. His reply entirely confirmed 

 my estimate of the inhabitants, for he said, " No one here 

 puts on a black coat on the Sabbath except the minister 

 and the general merchant." Yet the amount required, with 

 some assistance from the landlord, was duly raised, and by 

 the aid of the Fishery Board a harbour, which will be of 

 great advantage to the district, is now being constructed. 

 I mention this circumstance because I think the willingness 

 of the fishermen to pay, so far as in their power, for im- 

 proved harbours, is a consideration which should be taken 

 into account in any general scheme for harbour construc- 

 tion, and also because I think the spirit of self-reliance 



