82 



raising our fishery to its present importance. But of late 

 years the boats have been very much improved, and the 

 cotton nets, as I have already said, worked almost a revo- 

 lution in the Herring Fisheries. The effect of these combined 

 causes, better boats and better nets, will at once be appre- 

 ciated by a reference to a table compiled by Dr. Francis 

 Day (from the Scotch Fishery Board statistics), and pub- 

 lished in his notes, giving an account of his cruise in the 

 Triton last year. 



Dr. Day gives the proportion of barrels of cured herrings 

 to the fishermen employed since 1825 : 



Fishermen. Barrels. 



5 years, 1825-30 I 8 



5 1854-59 I 14 



5 1876-81 i 22 



One fisherman now produces nearly three times what he 

 did fifty years ago, and the result of his labour will bear 

 favourable comparison with the increased production of the 

 agricultural labourers during that period. I am, however, 

 quite at one with Professor Huxley in believing that our 

 sea fisheries are capable of far greater development, par- 

 ticularly by the application of steam power. On this point, 

 I may be permitted to quote some opinions I expressed in 

 a lecture I gave about two years ago, when I advocated 

 the application of steam power as a means of developing 

 our Herring Fisheries. 



What I claim for steam is : 



1. A saving of life by increasing the boat's chance of 



making a port of safety in bad weather. 



2. A certainty of reaching and returning from the 



fishing ground in all ordinary weather, indepen- 

 dent of tides, calms, and head winds. 



3. The comparative punctuality thus acquired by 



