160 BRITISH IND USTEIES. 



the fisheries, and who can see for themselves what is 

 really being done. 



The cod or " great lines " are worked at considerable 

 distances from land, and although on precisely the 

 same principle as the haddock lines, have fewer and 

 larger hooks, which are fastened to snoods 5 feet long 

 and 2^ fathoms apart. Small haddocks and herrings 

 are used as bait, and cod, ling, skate, turbot, and 

 holibut are the fish caught by them. The number of 

 lines in a boat varies with the number of men, each of 

 whom has one ; and the lines are all fastened together 

 into a " string " when they are shot. A winter herring 

 fishery has also been carried on in the Firth of Forth 

 during the last few years, but it is liable to much 

 interruption by the prevailing bad weather at that 

 season, and varies accordingly. The sprat fishing by 

 seans, or " trawls," takes place at the upper end of the 

 Firth, when the fish come in during the winter. As 

 with all fish which only come under notice at a par- 

 ticular season, the supply of sprats fluctuates from 

 year to year; sometimes being so abundant that they 

 can hardly be sold at any price, and at others produc- 

 ing large profits to the fishermen from a short supply. 



On the north side of the Firth there are many fishing 

 villages, all taking part in the characteristic fisheries of 

 the district; and important harbour works have been 

 carried on for many years past at Anstruther for the 

 special benefit of the fishermen. An annual grant of 

 money from Parliament has for some time been applied 

 to the construction of this harbour ; but the work has 

 progressed slowly, and so much damage has been done 



