THE SCOTCH EAST COAST HERRING FISHING. 13 



house accommodation more so, this year the curers will 

 have nearly all the advantages to be had at home. The 

 telegraph service is extended, as also steamer and land 

 communication. Several substantial "jetties" have been 

 built, and likewise good curing yards have been put up. 

 Even the remote parts of the islands have every prospect 

 of seeing a general merchant open business when the fishing 

 begins. Barra, on the west coast, is by Lady Gordon 

 Cathcart's assistance gradually rising from obscurity to 

 significance, and although last year was a failure, it is 

 to be hoped that the future fishings will prove a steady 

 increase compared to the former years. Stornoway has 

 now assumed the supremacy of the west coast, and has a 

 large trade. On account of the Barra failure last season, 

 Stornoway being extra-well fished, it is likely that there 

 will be a great increase of boats next season (1883). The 

 west coast fishing is for the greater part prosecuted by 

 east coast curers, and, with the exception of Stornoway, 

 all the yards are of a temporary character. 



Plant consists of farlins (already described) ; small tubs 

 or baskets for the various selections ; large rousing tub ; 

 hoop-bending mill, costs about 11 to 15; head-boring 

 mill, costs about 4 or 5 ; grindstone for sharpening 

 tools ; firing-plate and truss-hoops ; crisset and fender ; 

 steep for soaking hoops ; head and side jointers ; head and 

 side planes, or pluckers ; adze for notching hoops ; trussing 

 hammer and drivers ; shore, croze, and flencher or chime- 

 howl ; crumb or champhering-knife, head-knife, draw- 

 knife ; compass for taking the circumference of the barrel- 

 heads ; head and crosscut saws ; two bits for boring the 

 bung and spile holes; and stave-moulding axe, saw stool, 

 head-cleaning board, dowl-dropper, and diagonal rod. 

 Where there are kilns there are also required steeps for 



E. 23. D 



