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ENGLISH FISHERIES. 



IT may be interesting to some of my readers if I now 

 take a short survey of the fisheries carried on around 

 the British Islands, pointing out the localities in which 

 they have become important industries, and giving a 

 slight sketch of the kinds of fishing most in favour in 

 the several districts of the coast. It will be convenient 

 to take each country separately; and the extent of 

 coast-line, no less than the importance and variety of 

 its fisheries, fully justifies my beginning with England. 

 I do not remember its having been noticed that 

 the eastern coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 

 have generally more productive fisheries than the 

 western coasts of the three countries. But such is un- 

 doubtedly the case. On the western coast of Ireland, 

 the frequent bad weather, and the tremendous sea so 

 commonly setting in upon its bold, rocky shores, with 

 the absence, except in a few deep bays or inlets, of 

 harbours in which fishing boats of even moderate size 

 can find shelter, all combine to prevent systematic 

 fishing on a large scale. The same exposed character 

 of the coast of the outer Hebrides, which may be con- 

 sidered as forming a large portion of the western side 

 of Scotland, no doubt interferes there also with profit- 

 able fishing ; but great compensation is provided by 



