GREA T BRITAIN. 279 



surface of 33,000 square yards." The Commissioners esti- 

 mated, when giving the foregoing figures, that " each boat 

 had increased its power five-fold." But the amount cap- 

 tured does not appear to have kept pace with the increased 

 killing powers, for if so the fishermen who from 1825 to 

 1850, while employing hemp nets, obtained from 8 to 10 

 barrels per man, should now, were the proportions equal, 

 be capturing from 40 to 50 barrels instead of about 22. 

 It has been computed that there are 30,000 fishing vessels 

 of about 280,000 tons tonnage, manned by 105,000 men 

 and boys engaged around our islands, and most of which 



e at least occasionally engaged in the capture of herrings. 



ut numerous other trades are dependent on the success 

 or the reverse of this fishery. 



Lastly, I would remark, that if herrings have, due to 



anges in our fishery laws and consequent methods of 

 fishing, been unduly interfered with, so that the shoals are 

 now further out to sea than was formerly the case, thus 

 necessitating the employment of larger boats, has such 

 occasioned a great loss of life ? That going further out to 

 sea to obtain these fish is a necessity is now admitted, 

 while the harbour accommodation remains the same, boats 

 are thus unable to enter during storms, and a great sacrifice 

 of life is the result. This is another and most important 

 factor which ought to be taken into consideration when 

 deciding upon the necessity or the reverse for investigating 

 the results which have followed the legislation of the last 

 1 8 or 20 years. 



As food. Herrings are very largely employed as food 

 either in a fresh or cured condition. Of course in different 

 localities these fish may be, and often are, differently 

 treated ; usually care is taken in selecting and assorting 

 such fish as have to be cured, and also in obtaining the 



