THE SCOTCH EAST COAST HERRING FISHING. 21 



the fishing commences. There is an obvious risk in this 

 speculative payment, and there is a chance of its being 

 entirely lost. For instance, the Barra fishing last year 

 (1882) was a complete failure. The bounty was 40 per 

 boat. The curer's loss was averaged at 55 per boat. 

 Had no bounty been paid, the loss would have only been 

 .15 per boat. 



To the fishermen this payment of bounty is supposed to 

 assist them in passing through the winter, and to allow of 

 improvements to their boats. As presents to the fisher- 

 men, without conditions attached thereto, such payments 

 would be too highly commendable. But why not make 

 this payment, if necessarily required by the fishermen, 

 simply an advance to be repaid out of earnings ? In 

 some instances the bounty is misapplied, and it has been 

 known to encourage laziness amongst the crews, especially 

 in the early weeks of the fishing, when the cran is cheaper 

 than in the regular set time. Bounties will come to a 

 sudden stop the first year there is a backward and losing 

 fishing. At present a good year to the curer means a 

 greater speculative payment for the one that is to come, 

 and that without any augury as to an equivalent return. 



Aries are usually paid by the curer to the fisher over and 

 above the bounty when the engagements are entered into. 

 The arles are this year i per boat. As the fisher owning 

 the boat has to " arle " his crew, I presume the i is given 

 for that purpose. 



The average bounty, including arles, paid on the east 

 coast for the coming season, 1883, is about 48 per boat ; 

 inferior boats having 35 to 45 ; good boats 45 to 50 ; 

 and first-class boats 50 to 53. Many boats are this year 

 to commence fishing on the 1st July, but the engaged early 

 fishing is from the 8th or loth July till the i6th or i8th 



