HISTORY OP SEA-FISHERIES. 213 



1834, it will be seen how enormously the yield of 

 the fisheries has increased, and of what import- 

 ance they are as one of our many nurseries for 

 hardy seamen to man our navy in any emergency ; 

 and also a large amount is received by the mother 

 country for materials with which to prepare the 

 various engines necessary to make the sea yield 

 up her treasures. 



In the Report of the Commissioner for the 

 British Islands, ending Dec. 1859, the returns for 

 the herring fishery of that year are as follows : 

 Cured 491,487 barrels; branded 158,676 bar- 

 rels; exported 272,979 J barrels; and of the ex- 

 ported there were sent to the continent 203,3491 

 barrels; to Ireland 68,882 barrels; and to the 

 colonies 748 barrels : which, compared with the 

 herring fishery of 1858, shows a decrease of 

 144,636| barrels in the quantity cured ; of 74,698 

 barrels in the quantities branded ; and 77,225 

 barrels in the quantity exported; and, likewise, 

 upon an average of the three years of 1856, 1857, 

 and 1858, shows a decrease of 117,488 barrels in 

 the cured ; of 66,439 barrels in the branded ; and 

 82,0121 barrels in the exported. 



The fishing of 1859 was, therefore, remarkably 



