278 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



from 1825,* and I find that the number of barrels of cured 

 herrings has gradually increased from about 379,000 in 

 Scotland and the north-east coast of England until they 

 have reached to upwards of a million during each of the 

 last two years ; while the fishermen and boys have increased 

 by almost 4000. The proportion of the number of fisher- 

 men to barrels of herrings cured has averaged as follows : 



5 years, 1825 to 1830, i fisherman to 8 barrels of herrings 



55 8 



55 9 55 55 



55 I0 55 55 



55 9 55 55 



J5 *4 55 55 



17 



22 



The immense value to the community will be seen when 

 attention is directed to the value of the fishing-gear in 

 Scotland having averaged .1,263,737 for the last five years, 

 while each barrel of cured herrings is estimated to be 

 worth about 25^. 



But when we enquire into the gear employed, we are 

 told that cotton nets were coming in about 1856, but 

 subsequently they rapidly superseded the hempen ones. 

 A boat which used to carry 24 hemp nets, 40 yards long, 

 equivalent to 960 yards of netting, now employs 50 to 60 

 cotton nets, each 60 yards long, equivalent to 3300 yards. 

 The nets per boat, we are told, " used to present a catching 

 surface of 3000 square yards, they now present a catching 



* This includes the line fishing, but the two are not separated ; the 

 proportions probably continue much the same. 



