216 EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



fisMng. They return in the morning, of course, 

 with varied success. The fishing boats come 

 from all quarters — from France and the Baltic 

 even. Of course the majority are English and 

 Scotch. A great many live in these boats ; 

 many also for the time lodge in the town, where 

 they are taken in and done for. 



There is one very singular class of persons 

 attached to the fishing boats, and that is the 

 fish cleaners, or rather gutters. They are 

 mostly females. They do not live on board the 

 boats, though some are attached to them ; they 

 never go out fishing with them. The fleet 

 generally returns in the morning after fishing 

 all night, and then begins the cleaners' work. 

 There are along the different quays which are 

 attached to the different houses of some of 

 the chief fish merchants, temporary sheds 

 established, and in these the fish-curing com- 

 mences, and very expeditiously is it carried on. 

 Herring gutting is no clean, pleasant, or 

 savoury occupation ; but it is very expeditious. 

 With bare arms, feet, and legs, and not the 

 greatest quantity of coarse clothing, these ladies 

 set to work, and the expedition with which they 

 prepare a herring for salting would rather 

 astonish the most expert of London oyster 

 openers when there were oysters to open. Their 



