ORE A T BRITAIN. 259 



In the fourteen years from 1849 to 1862, 1003 boats were 

 annually employed in fishing at Wick, with an average 

 catch per boat of 133 barrels. During this period no 

 winter fishing was carried on ; it now commenced, and in 

 the fourteen years from 1863 to 1876, 885 boats were 

 annually similarly employed, and the average catch per 

 boat was 108 barrels. The witnesses condemned the de- 

 crease which had taken place in the size of the mesh of 

 the nets, and in the change of shooting nets before sunset 

 having become more common ; whilst it was noticed that 

 the Wick Chamber of Commerce for some years gave a 

 premium to the fishermen who landed the first herrings of 

 the season ; thus fishing has gradually changed from July 

 to the third week in June, the quality being small and 

 mostly only fit for bait. This, it is stated, prematurely 

 disturbs the shoals and injures the future prospect of the 

 fishing.* 



As the Wick herring fisheries from some cause diminished, 

 those at Fraserburgh began to increase in yield, Here the 

 same complaints were made as to the reduced size of the 

 mesh of the nets and the taking of immature fish, but 

 the fishing was said to commence about the middle or 2Oth 

 of July, the fish being mostly taken further from shore than 

 was formerly the case ; while it is continued, " there is now 

 (1878) no winter fishing except for bait. The small fish do 

 not fetch good prices, and are often condemned as unfit for 

 food." 



Herrings appear on the north-west coast of Scotland at 



* The same opinion seems to have found favour at Peterhead, 

 Aberdeen, and Montrose, that the early fishing has a bad effect on 

 the off-shore banks, increased by the repeal of the enactments against 

 garvie-fishing, which occupation commences in November and occa- 

 sionally lasts until March. 



S 2 



