22 



THE HERRING FISHERY. 



Shetland and 

 the trawl. 



Source of 

 wealth to 

 England. 



" Catch 

 greater. 



No danger of 

 reduction of 

 supply. 



Better 

 methods in 

 future. 



Curing. 



" Bloater," 

 kipper," &c 



Railways. 



In conversation with some fishermen who had been . 

 fishing among the Shetland Islands during last summer, I 

 heard it stated that trawling, if adopted there, would be 

 a success, as the herrings were close inshore. The only 

 difficulty would lie in getting the trawl boats there, on 

 account of the great distance. 



I need not say anything here of what a great source of 

 wealth the herring fishery is to our country, as that is well 

 known from the figures published regarding our exports, 

 not to speak of the immense quantities consumed at home. 

 It would not be possible to give a correct statement of 

 what is used at home ; there are so many bye-ports and 

 creeks where herrings are landed. 



It is acknowledged by all, including those who would put 

 restrictions on engines used for fishing, that the " catch " of 

 herrings is greatly on the increase. I have forty years' ex- 

 perience, and I see no danger of reducing the quantity of 

 herrings in our waters. All the improvements an our 

 material have been a benefit both to fisher and consumer, 

 and, judging the future by the past, we may expect greater 

 improvements and better methods still in capturing the 

 finny tribes. Restrictions on any industry are hurtful, but 

 they are particularly so when applied to herring fishing. 



Before closing I may mention that the system of curing 

 for the home market is now nearly supplanted by better 

 methods of preparing herring for food. There is the 

 " bloater " and the " kipper," and many other ways of making 

 them more palatable than having them packed in barrels 

 and covered with pickle. 



Our railways are also a great advantage to fishers, 

 branches being laid to all the principal parts of the coast, 

 and steamers run in connection with them to the islands, 

 bringing as it were the remotest stations near, so that 



