HERRING FISHERY. 



on in the middle of winter, the cold is fo fevere, and the air at 

 the fame time fo very ferene, that the mere drying of the cod in 

 the open air, without the ufe of fait, is fufficient to preferve it, 

 \vhich is an advantage and a faving not to be had elfewhere. 

 Befides, the Germans are more fond of the Norwegian unfalted 

 dried cod, than they are of the dried cod which had been pre. 

 vioufly failed. The falted or pickled cod, called by the Ger- 

 mans Laberdan, is lefs valued by them than the dried cod, 

 which they call ftock fifh, infomuch that in the year 1798, only 

 488 barrels of falted cod (or Laberdan) were imported at Ham- 

 burgh, and in 1799 the importation was reduced to merely eight 

 barrels, which were brought from Shetland. But falted ling 

 appears to have met with better fuccefs ; and it is highly probable 

 that Seottifh falted ling, efpeciaily the barra ling, which is in 

 great estimation, might be fent to Hamburgh with advantage. 

 An attempt at an exportation of faked ling was made from Leith 

 to Hamburgh in 1798, and the fpeculation mufl have been at- 

 tended with fome fuccefs, as in the following year, 1799, were 

 imported from Leith to Hamburgh 140 cwt. of falted ling, as 

 appears from the Hamburgh printed lifts. It is true, that this 

 Quantity was very fmall in comparifon of what was brought to 

 Hamburgh in the fame year from Bergen, Drontheim, and 

 Chriftiana ; but it may ferve at leaft as an encouragement to 

 future adventurers from North Britain. 



With refpecl: to the places in Germany where herrings are 

 chiefly fold and confumed, it may be obferved, that in addition 

 to the above-mentioned fea ports, almoft every town in Germany 

 expofes falted herrings to fale, either wholefale or retail ; and 

 the adjacent villages are fupplied by hawkers from the refpe&ive 

 towns. The mode of conveying the herrings into the interior 

 of Germany is partly by means of the rivers, and partly by land 

 carriage. Herrings fent to Leipzig, Drefden, and other parts 

 of the Electorate of Saxony, are carried on the Elbe from Ham- 

 burgh to Magdeburg in Barges, and from Magdeburg to Leip- 

 zig, &c. they are brought by land. Thofe fent to Berlin have 



the 



