THE HERRING FISHERIES 



37 



on the numbers of 1881, but both the vessels employed 

 and the exportations show an increase, thus 1881, vessels 

 employed, 158 ; 1882, vessels employed, 173. Or to tabu- 

 late it in fuller form, thus : 



The second section of tables gives a comparative view of the Monthly 

 Shipments under their respective dates to various continental ports. 



The curing process begins at once, and for this purpose 

 all hands are ready to begin work. The herrings are 

 counted out by the cran to the curer ; the cran is a measure 

 holding forty-five gallons. The "gutters" or eviscerators 

 immediately commence to open and clear away the in- 

 testines. These persons are usually women, who work in 

 gangs of five or eight at a time. The fish are carried to 

 the "rousing troughs," where, as the name implies, they 

 are roused in salt, and so expert are the women at cleaning, 

 salting, and packing, that they will produce a barrel to the 

 cooper in ten minutes with ease. 



When large takes of herrings come in it is necessary to 



