50 THE BRITISH FISH TRADE. 



are islands on the west of Scotland which are as remote 

 from the markets as Ireland itself. The Western Hebrides, 

 till lately, sent their fish to London either by Glasgow or 

 by Strome Ferry. In 1880 the opening of the Oban railway 

 gave them a new outlet for their industry; and, in iSSi, 

 upwards of 12,000 tons of fish were despatched from Oban 

 alone by railway, while upwards of 1,000 tons were sent 

 from Strome Ferry. The remote islands, which are known 

 as the outer Hebrides, are probably, therefore, sending two 

 tons of fish to the British markets for every three tons that 

 arrive from the whole of Ireland. 



The desultory operations of the Irish fishermen will be 

 still better understood if the figures are examined in another 

 way. The 42,000 fishermen of England and Wales despatch 

 to the home and foreign markets 260,000 tons of fish, or 

 about six tons for each fisherman. The 48,000 Scotch 

 fishermen send about 60,000 tons of fish to the home 

 markets, and about 100,000 tons of fish to the foreign 

 markets, or nearly 4 tons to each fisherman. But the 

 24,000 Irish fishermen only send away about 20,000 tons 

 of fish, or less than I ton for each fisherman : and these 

 figures, striking as they are, do not, it must be recollected, 

 represent the whole truth.* A large proportion of the Irish 

 fish are not caught by Irish fishermen, but by Scotch, 

 Manx, and English fishing-boats. A large proportion of 

 the English and Scotch fish, moreover, is consumed on the 

 coasts, while there is no large consumption of fish on the 

 Irish coasts. 



These facts will appear still more remarkable if they be 



* In the preceding figures I have assumed (i) that all the herrings 

 exported were exported from Scotland ; (2) that 10 barrels of herrings 

 weigh i ton ; (3) that all the other fish exported were exported from 

 England. I have computed this at 22,000 tons. 



