HERRING FISHERY. 



to conjecture, with any probability at prefent, how many thoufand 

 barrels might be difpofed of annually. That the confumption of 

 herrings in Germany, which was eftimated above at only i 30,000 

 barrels annually under the prefent circumflances might be more 

 than double is evident, not only becaufe with the prefent importa- 

 tion, there is an univerfal complaint of fcarcity, but becaufe the 

 Dutch aJone, when their herring fifhery was in its moft flourifhing 

 ftate, and they ufed to employ above 2,000 buffes in it, are fup- 

 pofed to have furnifhed Germany with more than 300,000 barrels 

 annually. With refpecl to the beft means of encouraging the her- 

 ring trade with Germany, t\\z Jtne qua non is the immediate adop- 

 tion of the Dutch method of curing; and when that is adopted, 

 the herring trade between North Britain and Germany will efta- 

 blifh itfelf without any kind of difficulty, becaufe the advantage of 

 catching the fi(h on our own coaft will enable us to underfell the 

 Dutch, the Emdeners, and the people of Altona, who have a 

 long voyage to make before they get to the fifhing grounds : 

 And as the Swedim herrings, which a few years ago were much 

 cheaper than our herrings, have been gradually rifing in price, 

 till they have at length (I do not mean the prefent year 1800, 

 after the failure of the Swedim herring fifhery in November and 

 December 1799, but I allude to the two preceding years in 

 which there had been no dearth) reached the price of herrings at 

 Greenock, it is evident, that as foon as our herrings have attained 

 the excellence of Dutch herrings, not even the Swedim. will be 

 able to hold out the markets againft them. 



What parts of the Britifh coaft are beft fituated to carry on the 

 herring fifhery for the German market ; at what feafon mould ic 

 be purfued ; and what regulation may be necefTary for its fuccefs? 



Thofe parts of the Britifh coaft which lie the neareft to thofe 

 fifhing grounds, on which fuch fat herrings may be caught as arc 

 fit to be cured for the German market, are undoubtedly bbfl fitu- 

 ated to carry on the herring fifhery, with a view of fupplying thr, 

 German market. Hence neither Yarmouth, nor a^y other port 



