HISTORY OF HOWIETOUK 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



THE great success of Howietoun as a trout farm, and the very 

 prevalent idea that Great Britain as a nation is behind the rest 

 of the world in the matter of its fisheries, has induced me to write 

 this book in the form of an annual record of the work done from 

 the commencement in 1873 to the present date, prefaced by a 

 short account of the different processes in carrying on the work 

 of the trout farm from harvesting the eggs to the production 

 of the oldest and best breeding fish. 



It is most extraordinary, in these days of newspapers and 

 voluminous departmental Government reports, that the pre- 

 eminence of Great Britain in all matters pertaining to fisheries is 

 in Great Britain itself but vaguely recognised. For a number of 

 years the Scotch white fisheries have been under the care of a 

 Government Board. Cured herrings are sold all over the world 

 under the guarantee of a Government brand. The brand itself is 

 a guarantee that the herring have been cured within a very few 

 hours of capture, and that they are of the quality (matties, fulls, 

 or spents) indicated by the brand, and that they are properly 

 packed in efficient barrels, containing a specified quantity. A 

 small fee is charged for affixing the brand, and the surplus, after 

 defraying the cost a few thousands annually is applied in 

 improving the harbour accommodation along the coast, a matter 

 the urgency of which has been much increased by the larger boats 



A 



