272 BEST KIND OF BOATS FOE HERRING-FISHING. [CHAP. vi. 



rings, but nominally it is 10,000 fish), and are manned with 

 some fourteen men or boys. 



There has been a long-continued controversy in Scotland 

 as to the best kind of fishing-boats, certain parties arguing 

 that none but decked vessels ought to be used, which we 

 think would be a great mistake so long as the fishing is 

 carried on as at present. In the first place, there is no 

 harbour accommodation for a fleet of large decked vessels ; 

 the present herring-boats, when not in use, are drawn up on 

 the beach, where they can readily be examined and repaired, 

 and can be easily pushed into the water when again required. 

 In the second place, these herring-boats rarely go far from 

 their fishing-port ; a voyage of from one to three hours carries 

 them to the fishing-place which they have selected the chief 

 fisheries being just oft 7 the coast ; and as they have only to 

 spend a few hours on the fishing-ground before returning to 

 port, the present size of boat is in every way convenient for 

 the voyage. And, in the third place, the open boats have this 

 advantage viz. that it is easier to fish from one of them than 

 from a larger vessel the great length of the present drift of 

 nets involving very severe labour, both in the letting of the 

 nets out from the boat and in hauling them in when laden with 

 fish. So long, therefore, as the herring-fishery is a coast one, 

 the present style of boat is the best that can be employed. If 

 it were necessary for the boats to go far out to sea, involving 

 a voyage of days, then it would be proper to have larger vessels, 

 because it is absolutely necessary that the herrings should be 

 cured within a few hours of their being captured. 



The following figures as to the catch of 1862 and 1863, and 

 as to the number of boats and people employed, are from the 

 official returns of the fishing of these two years ; in fact I have 

 made a complete though brief abridgment of the whole papers, 

 which, at the time I write, are the latest published. The 

 revenue derived under the Act for the branding of herrings, 



