22 THE HERRING FISHERIES. 



Even a strong wind was sufficient to strew the beach with 

 fish. 



Some authorities assert that the diminution of the 

 herring fishery is caused by the winter fishery for sprats 

 and young herring, and that the same reason may be 

 applied to our white fish ; and the splendid fishery in the 

 Firth of Forth, extending at one time to Kincardineshire, is 

 cited as an instance how we can disperse the white fish by 

 exhausting the herring shoals. 



As good authorities assert that it is impossible to affect 

 the herring, or cause any apparent diminution in the 

 average takes for the season, as any differences may 

 readily be accounted for by the season itself, such as 

 stormy weather, not to mention the casualties that too 

 frequently happen through loss of nets, boat, and even life 

 itself. But since we have to close this order with the 

 winter fishery, it may serve some purpose to examine the 

 facts, and leave opinions alone in the meanwhile. The 

 principal centres for the winter fishery on the east coast 

 are Wick, Anstruther, and Firth of Forth. The Firth of 

 Forth closes in January, and the other districts named 

 begin the winter fishery in this month. 



The statistical tables are the main guides in determining 

 our question, and as these are appended in full for some 

 years past, we may state as a broad conclusion that where 

 a decrease is shown at one district, an increase is shown at 

 another. For this year (1883) about eight yawls, which 

 represented the winter fishery in Firth of Forth, reported 

 very poor fishing indeed ; but then the bulk of the New- 

 haven fleet were at Girvan on the west coast, or Anstruther 

 on the. east coast, and for both stations large takes and 

 good prices are recorded. At Wick (1883) the catch was 

 very small, and for the whole season up to March it records 

 1990 crans against 4693 crans of corresponding date of 



