THE HERRING FISHERY. 13 



introduced for making nets, giving us a finer, cheaper, and 

 more durable article than the hemp or flax nets that were 

 formerly used. 



Trawling has now become a recognised method, and the Trawling now 



a recognised 



nets are enlarged to such an extent that, instead of being method, 

 fifteen or eighteen score meshes deep, they are now from Trawl-nets, 

 forty to fifty score meshes deep, and three hundred yards 

 in length. 



Some of our fish merchants tried a small screw-steamer to Small screw- 

 attend trawlers and run with their herrings to the market, employed 



by merchants. 



as heavy hauls were sometimes got early in the morning. 

 This plan succeeded so well that we have now about a 

 dozen screw-steamers in attendance. Tugs are sometimes 

 chartered for the same purpose. These steamers are all 

 capable of maintaining a high rate of speed, some of them 

 reaching eleven or twelve knots an hour, so that when they 

 get their cargo of herrings on board they very soon reach 

 Glasgow, often before the market is open. If the herrings 

 will suit the English market they are sent off per rail as 

 soon as possible, and will arrive in England in good con- 

 dition. When the steamers are on the fishing ground they The herrings 

 follow the fleet, and the fisherman who gets a good haul from boS to 

 shows a signal with a light which the buyer understands. steamer - 

 A steamer is soon on the spot, and when the price is agreed 

 on, the work of transferring the herrings from the boats to 

 the steamer is soon accomplished. The herrings are sold 

 by the basket to further their dispatch. 



It requires two boats for trawling, and each boat has a Two boats 

 crew of four men. They generally put to sea in the after- 

 noon to look for appearances. One man is always 

 stationed at the bow to keep a look out, and the practised The " Jook- 

 eye will at once detect the slightest appearance of U 

 herrings. 



