20 THE SCOTCH EAST COAST HERRING FISHING. 



past six years. Before then the bounties were compara- 

 tively small, even as low as 5. 



Bounty paid 



i8 77 . 

 20 



i8 79 . 

 40 



20 40 



1882. 

 48 



The fluctuations in bounty payments are entirely caused 

 by the preceding year's catch and prices. Therefore the 

 payments are purely speculative as to probable rise or fall 

 for the coming year. A glance at the prices here given 

 from the principal market Stettin will tend to prove this. 



The quotations on 3 1 st December were as follows : 



(Calculate 20^ mks. to i.) 



The curers argue that to procure good boats good 

 bounties must be paid. If bounties of a necessity must 

 be given, then I agree with them. But why should 

 bounties be paid ? For example, take two boats both 

 getting the same amount of bounty. One takes 100 crans, 

 and the other 200 crans ; in which case it would appear 

 reasonable to expect that the catch of 100 crans should 

 only receive half the bounty of the other ; but it is not so. 

 They both have the same bounty, but the one boat's fish 

 is considerably dearer than the other ; this to show that 

 the bounty is not well or even-balanced. Again, if a curer 

 has engaged eleven boats this year, he has paid out of his 

 capital slightly more than 500 six or seven months before 



