LOWESTOFT CHINA 143 



Between the years 1777— -81 the average 

 consumption per annum of red herrings in 

 England was roughly 13,000,000, the average 

 annual consumption of white herrings about 

 5,000 barrels, each containing about 800 fish. 



In 1779 it was estimated that two-thirds 

 of the seamen who manned the shipping of the 

 Clyde, besides a considerable number in the 

 vessels belonging to Liverpool, Bristol and 

 London, and a great number in the Navy, 

 had been bred in the herring industry. 



There is a connection between Lowestoft 

 china and the herring fishery. In Chaffters's 

 " Marks and Monograms on Pottery, etc." 

 (1897), it is stated that Philip Walker, pro- 

 prietor of the Lowestoft Porcelain Works, 

 founded in 1756, " like many others of the 

 gentry, had a boat, which was occasionally 

 engaged in the mackerel and herring fisheries, 

 from 1770 down to the year 1790. . . ." 

 Obed Aldred, another partner, was a member of 

 the firm of Stannard and Aldred, who " had 

 boats engaged in the herring trade from 1769 

 to 1778, when they seem to have dissolved 

 partnership." 



John Richman, another partner, " was an 

 extensive merchant, and employed several 

 boats in the herring-fishery ; in 1748 he had 

 four, and more or less up to 1756, when he 

 seems to have discontinued the trade, and 

 probably devoted himself to the interests of 

 the (Lowestoft) porcelain manufactory." 



