THE HERRING FISHERIES. ^ 



quantity can any fishing grounds equal those in the west 

 of Scotland ; but practically there is no close of the British 

 herring fishery, although the great season is from July to 

 September. 



Yarmouth, the headquarters for the English fishery, 

 usually commences operations at the close of the east coast 

 fishery for Scotland. In the beginning of October, a fleet 

 of, or more than, five hundred vessels set out to the fishing 

 grounds. A Yarmouth lugger is better adapted for the 

 business, and less dangerous, than the open boats of Scot- 

 land, except where the " hauling in " of the nets are con- 

 cerned. This is obviated in the case of Yarmouth boats 

 by using smaller nets, as when searching for fish the men 

 may shoot and re-shoot them quite easily. Nets range 

 from one hundred to one hundred and forty for each boat, 

 and the nets are forty-eight feet long, and thirty feet deep. 

 A Yarmouth lugger may cost from .700 to 1000, and 

 is equipped for cargo and partial curage, carrying barrels, 

 salt, and other essentials. The boats average fifty feet long, 

 and the crew about fifteen men. Both the fishery and the 

 curing processes connected with it are very carefully con- 

 ducted. Buoys, in the shape of small barrels, show the 

 position of the nets, and these buoys are painted according 

 to the ship's name and port to which they belong, and 

 at night lights are used to prevent collisions with the 

 boats. 



Although there is a great and increasing demand for 

 fresh herring, especially in the earlier part of the season, 

 the greater portion of the season's catches is cured. The 

 broken fish is sold in hundreds of tons for manure, and 

 sometimes at as low a figure as 2Or. a ton. The curing- 

 houses usually consist of two interior divisions, one for 

 receiving and cleaning the fish, and the other to smoke 



