THE HERRING. 131 



part of November ; and about three months 

 previously to this they assemble in vast shoals, 

 and gradually approach our coast, sometimes 

 frequenting for years certain localities, which, 

 from some cause not well understood, they do 

 not again visit, or only in trifling numbers. 

 Hence it happens, that the various herring 

 stations around our coast experience great 

 fluctuations, not only as to quantity, but also as 

 to the time of the arrival of the shoals.* 



* The subjoined notice appeared in one of the public papers 

 on June 18th, 1846 : 



" HERRING FISHING. It gives us great pleasure to state, 

 that the herring fishing in Lochfine has been very successful 

 this week, and the fish of the best quality. The market, 'on 

 Thursday, was more than abundantly supplied from Tarbet, 

 Lochgilphead, and Inverary, the latter station furnishing by 

 far the best fish. The abundant take allowed a great many 

 boxes, about sixty in number, imported here by Mr. W. 

 Gallocher, to be sent to Glasgow, Paisley, Dumbarton, and 

 Liverpool. The herrings were selling here at five for sixpence 

 on Thursday. The process of curing was also vigorously 

 carried on by him at the market, so that our denizens will 

 have it in their po'wer to partake of new cured herrings. On 

 Thursday afternoon, the Campbelton steamer passed with up- 

 wards of 100 barrels of cured herrings for the Glasgow market. 

 This is a good supply, although the fish are small in size, and 

 not equal in quality to the Lochfine herrings." Greenock 

 Advertiser. 



We add the following, dated February 12th, 1846 : 



"TAKE OF HERRINGS. We are happy to state, that the 

 greatest take of herrings within the memory of the oldest 

 inhabitant of this island has occurred in our bay (Dug'ort) 

 during the last three weeks. We may safely state, that up- 

 wards of 300,000 herrings were caught, and sold at fair prices, 

 averaging from 1*. 3d. to 3*. per hundred ; the fish were of 

 more than ordinary size." AcMll Herald 



