£30 D E R R Y. 



herring trade. 1750 barrels to the Weft-Indies. 

 Here has been a vaft encreafe of the fifhery in 

 the hands of one perfon, which fhews clearly 

 what might be done if larger capitals were em- 

 ployed. Mr. Alexander was prevented laft 

 year from doing fo much as he might have 

 done, and what he did was at a very great ex- 

 penfe for want of proper houfes, which are 

 not to be had on Loch Swilly -, and in order to 

 remedy this inconvenience, has this year, 1776. 

 built on the point of Inch Ifland, called the 

 Downing, a complete falting-houfe, confifting 

 of a range of houfes for all the operations, 

 divided into four apartments, one of 20 feet 

 by 1 8 a ftore-room for coarfe fait, which will 

 hold 150 to 200 tons- another of the fame di- 

 menfions for fine fait ; a third for receiving 

 the herrings from the boats and gutting them, 

 of the fame ilze ; and a fourth for a cooper's 

 fhop. Thefe apartments all communicate with 

 a fecond range, 80 by 1 8, which is filled with 

 vefTels for finking the herrings, that is, put- 

 ting them for fait for 10 or 1 2 days ; this com- 

 municates with a third houfe, 80 by' 14, in 

 which the herrings, being taken from the vef- 

 fels above mentioned, are barrelled and finifh- 

 ed off for the fhips. Befides thefe there is a 

 dwelling houTe for the clerks, &c. of 28 by 

 14. All thefe buildings are fubfhntially erect- 

 ed of ftone, and covered with Hate. The 

 finifhing-houfe contains the boats when not in 

 ufe, and above it is a light loft for the nets. 

 Over the curing-houfe is a large loft for the 

 £mpty -barrels 3 and over the cooper's {hop are 



apartments 



