138 BRITISH INDUSTRIES. 



was given to it until about 1852. It is commenced 

 about the middle of March in deep water, fifty or sixty 

 miles from the land ; but the fish are then very small, 

 and fetch only a low price in the market, being scarcely 

 fit for anything but manure. Nets with meshes below 

 the usual size are necessary for catching them, and it 

 is believed by many people that this fishing is begun 

 much too early. As the season advances, the fish come 

 gradually nearer the land, increase in size, put on fat, 

 and become more marketable. This fishery lasts till 

 the first week in May, when the fish appear to become 

 scarce, and the fishermen get ready for the summer 

 fishery, which requires nets with a larger mesh. The 

 interval between the two fisheries is very short, often 

 only a week ; and when the work is resumed, the fish 

 are found at only a few miles from the coast. The 

 condition of these fish leads to the belief that they are 

 only the remains of the spring shoals, as they are of 

 the same description as those previously caught, and 

 without any development of roe, but they are still 

 fatter. It is difficult to understand why there should 

 be any scarcity of fish for the short time between the 

 two fisheries, if they really belong to the same shoals ; 

 but such appears to be the case. Some connection 

 between them seems likely, for undoubtedly the sum- 

 mer fishery has several times been a short one after an 

 abundant spring fishing, although such is not always 

 the case. The midsummer fishing lasts till the middle 

 of July, and the fish are in great request for the fresh 

 market. After that no herrings are caught till the im- 

 portant autumn fishery begins, about the first week in 



