336 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



as the harbour is an artificial one. The fishery dates chiefl) 

 from its construction, and has rapidly grown to large pro, 

 portions. The herring fishery here may be said to be the 

 principal fishing, though trawling is carried on to a greal 

 extent, and is very much on the increase. Owners o] 

 trawling-smacks from Ramsgate and Brixham are continu- 

 ally coming to reside here, bringing their vessels with them 

 as the trawl fish are now followed farther north. These 

 are the principal trawl owners of this port, and by them 

 Apprentices, the system of apprenticeships has been introduced, as far 

 as trawlers are concerned, an apprentice to the drift fishing 

 being practically unknown, though it can hardly be 

 accounted for, as many drift-boats are now at sea about 

 nine months out of every year, and during the remaining 

 three an apprentice might be usefully employed in ran- 

 sacking old or setting up new nets, tarring warps, over- 

 hauling rigging, and many other ways, and thus become 

 a thorough master of the trade ; but it is estimated that 1 

 two-thirds of the drift fishermen of the present day on this 

 part of the coast would be unable to prepare their own gear 

 even if the materials were found them. Some of the drift- 

 boats here commence to fit out for the Plymouth mackerel 

 voyage in January ; for the Irish mackerel voyage and 

 home spring herring voyage in February, March, and April, 

 some choosing one voyage, some another. 



In June the voyage for the midsummer or fat-gut herring 

 begins. A mackerel voyage is prosecuted at the same 

 time. As soon as the boats have finished the midsummer 

 herring voyage, they leave for the northern coal ports, 

 and there commence the great North Sea herring voyage, 

 gradually working up with the shoals of herrings to 

 Yarmouth and Lowestoft about September, when the 

 home voyage begins, and continues till Christmas. The 



