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ment of villages and towns, on the coast of Scotland, for the 

 accommodation of those engaged in the business, is believed to 

 have been productive of the greatest and most permanent effect. 

 For the purpose of thus colonizing the remote shores of that 

 country, the British Society was incorporated; and to the 

 exertions of this Society, consisting principally of Scotch land- 

 lords. Wick, in Caithness, (among other stations,) owes its 

 existing condition. On that spot, the Society, with the aid of 

 Government, built two harbours, with every desirable conveni- 

 ence for the landing and curing of fish. The number of inhabitants, 

 at first not more than 1,500, has been gradually raised to 10,000 ; 

 most of them more or less directly engaged in the Fisheries. 

 There, traders assemble every summer, with capital, to purchase 

 the produce, and with materials to preserve it, on a scale which 

 insures the production of a good and cheap article. Thither, 

 consequently, are drawn fishermen from the south of Scotland, 

 and even from England, to pursue the Herring fishery during 

 the season. Wick has thus been rendered the great seat of the 

 North British Herring Fisheries, and a centre of commerce to 

 the surrounding districts. One principal benefit arising from this 

 effort, is the complete separation of the two trades of curing and 

 of taking; by which not only the usual advantages of a division 

 of labour are secured, but also a sure and steady supply of salt, 

 and a co-ordinate reward for the fisherman's labour: two inva- 

 luable desiderata on the Irish coast. Previously to the establish- 

 ment of this and the other fishing stations of Scotland, the fish- 

 eries of that country were in the same helpless and inefficient 

 state in which they are now found in the north-west of Ireland. 

 There, were to be seen the same poverty, the same absence of 

 skill, and of the best instruments of labour ; the same periodical 

 famines, and the same scanty, yet apparently superabundant 

 population ; on these grounds, it has been thought that the 

 Scotch project is well worthy of imitation in Ireland. The an- 

 tecedents being in both cases identical, the same success is by 

 many anticipated in the one, which has been realized in the other. 

 For the accomplishment of this end, too. experience has proved 

 that a very large outlay would not be necessary. The great 

 danger incurred by the Society, says Mr. Loch, arose from a 

 tendency to over building; while little more is really required 

 to put the curer in motion, than a station for his work, and a 

 weather-tight shed for his salt and barrels. 



" That the establishment of curing stations on favourable posi- 

 tions of the north-west coast of Ireland, would give the Fisheries 

 their best chance of a speedy development, the Commissioners 

 are strongly inclined to believe; but they are at the same time 

 bound to declare, that they do not anticipate an immediate 

 sequence of all those important results which attended the 

 labours of the British Society." 



