CHAP. VI.] THE HERRING LOTTERY. 257 



example of an engagement I may cite the case of a Burghhead 

 boat, which bargained for 15s. per cran, 20s. of engaging money 

 (arles), ten gallons of whisky, net-ground, net-driving i.e. 

 from the boat to the ground and back again and 20 of cash 

 in the shape of a bounty.* At some places even larger sums 

 are asked for and obtained as much as 54 in bounty and 

 perquisites. My idea is that there ought to be no " engage- 

 ments," no bounty, and no perquisites. As each fishing comes 

 round let the boats catch, and the curers buy day by day as 

 the fish arrive at the quay. This plan has already been 

 adopted at some fishing-towns, and is an obvious improve- 

 ment on the prevailing plan of gambling by means of 

 " engagements " in advance. 



In fact, this fishery is best described when it is called a 

 lottery. No person knows what the yield will be till the last 

 moment : it may be abundant, or it may be a total failure. 

 Agriculturists are aware long before the reaping season 

 whether their crops are light or heavy, and they arrange ac- 

 cordingly ; but if we are to believe the fisherman, his harvest 

 is entirely a matter of "luck." It is this belief in "luck" 

 which is, in a great degree, the cause of our fisher-folk not 

 keeping pace with the times : they are greatly behind in all 

 matters of progress ; our fishing towns look as if they were, 

 so to speak, stereotyped. It is a woeful time for the fisher- 

 folk when the herrings fail them ; for this great harvest of the 

 sea, which needs no tillage of the husbandman, the fruits of 

 which are reaped without either sowing seed or paying rent, 



* "We understand that about 100 boats have been engaged to fish 

 at Fraserburgh from Portsoy, Portknockie, Buckle, and Portgordon, 

 and the other fishing villages. The exact terms of engagement we 

 subjoin as follows, from an authoritative source. The terms are - 

 15s. per cran, with .15 bounty, 2 for lodgings, l as earnest-money, 

 with cartage of nets, and net ground. The cartage of nets and net 

 ground costs 3 : 10s. to ,4, so that the terms are equal to 15s. per 

 cran, and 21 i 10s. to 22 in full of bounty." Banff Journal. 



