4 THE SCOTCH EAST COAST HERRING FISHING. 



tendency to underclothe themselves, judging by their open- 

 breasted semmit, or shirt. Our fishermen are likewise very 

 much needing a thorough lecturing and training in the art 

 of making clean by a judicious and plentiful use of soap 

 and water, and an occasional total immersion. The fisher- 

 women might follow the example also with advantage. Of 

 course there are exceptions, and they deserve commenda- 

 tion for their cleanliness. Their homes are comfortable, 

 but are slightly overcrowded, generally clean, and the 

 furniture more ancient than modern. Fish is their great 

 sustenance, but when they are at the fishing centres the 

 beef they then use makes up for the scarcity whilst at 

 home during the winter. It is necessary to give a justly 

 merited warning and particularly required denunciation 

 regarding overcrowding at the large centres, such as 

 Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Wick, during the season. House 

 proprietors and lodging-house keepers are . more to blame 

 than the fishermen, as they should be made to provide 

 suitable accommodation if they are to be allowed to lodge 

 fishermen and their families. As for the fishermen, poor 

 simple people, they are only too glad to secure any shelter 

 during their temporary residence, no matter how filthy. 

 The accommodation being limited, overcrowding is general, 

 and the manner of their huddling together in outhouses, 

 stores, lofts, and even worse places, is a disgrace to civilisa- 

 tion. To know about, and to have seen the overcrowding 

 and filth, and to have inhaled the nauseous vapours when 

 passing these temporary abodes, gives one the feeling that 

 such living is not only disgusting, but degrading. Such 

 mode of living is not the fishermen's choice, but is forced 

 on them as a necessity. It is high time that a Parliamentary 

 Commission be appointed to examine and report upon the 

 accommodation available for the fisher people at the various 



