8 HERRING FISHERY. 



as a branch of induflry highly advantageous to 

 the community. A bufs of thirty-two lafts, fit- 

 ted out for three voyages, cofts, as we already 

 obferved, between iixteen and feventeen thoufand 

 florins, each lafl of herrings contains twelve tuns, 

 and each tun about eight hundred herrings ; the 

 whole lading then of the bufs amounts to about 

 380 tuns, and if each herring be eftknated at half 

 a ftiver, (/'. e., twenty florins the tun) the amount 

 will be 7600 florins, which multiplied by three 

 voyages, yields a fum total of 22,800, from 

 which 1 7000 florins being deducted for prime coft, 

 a furplus remains of 5800 florins for each bufs, 

 all net profit : 



Which multiplied by 1 60, the number of buffes 

 yearly fent out to the fifhery, yields little fhort of 

 a million of florins. 



Let us In the fecond place examine, with what 

 inftruments, and after what manner this amazing 

 quantity of herrings is taken as foon as the buffes 

 are all aiTembled. They take their courfe from 

 Shetland, N. N. E. and caft the nets off Fair- 

 hill, on St. John's night, the 2 5th of June, 

 after midnight. The fifhery is always carried on 

 at night, as well to obviate the inconvenience of* 

 the fifli difcovering the nets., as alfa to entice them 

 by the light of the lanterns a of which they are 

 fond, and towards which they make. Mr. Spoa 

 in his travels through Italy, makes mention of a 



fimilar 



