THE HERRING FISHERIES. 



PART I. 



THE herring fisheries form one of the greatest commercial 

 sea enterprises at home or abroad as a ready source of 

 wealth. Royalty has aided its development, for it is 

 branded from olden time by the legislative care of kings 

 and governments. In England this fishery was pursued 

 at a very early period. Yarmouth was taxed to the amount 

 of ten thousand herrings for his Majesty King Henry I. 

 Edward III. encouraged and fostered this industry with 

 money and wise legislation. In Scotland, also, it has had 

 the patronage of royalty, especially from their Majesties 

 James V. and VI. And to this present time Parliament 

 has passed many Acts and inquiries affecting our herring 

 fisheries. 



The British herring fishery is inaugurated at the Hebrides 

 in the month of May, and closes with the autumn and 

 winter fishery at Yarmouth (with some exceptions in Scot- 

 land). Owing to this, we have a spring, summer, autumn, 

 and winter fishery, and it is also between the winter and 

 spring seasons that a close time for herring should exist. 



Yarmouth is the central fishing station for this great 

 industry on the east coast of England. Wick, Peterhead, 

 and Fraserburgh, are the great fishing stations for the east 

 coast of Scotland, but the best fishing grounds are found 

 on the west coast. 



E. 21. C 



