20 IMPORTANCE OF INVESTIGATING 



men employed in importing salt and materials for the 

 fisheries, in conveying the fish on the coasts, and carry- 

 ing the same to British or foreign ports. By the Eeport 

 of the Honourable Commissioners of the Fishery for 1856, 

 page 42, it appears that the tonnage of shipping so em- 

 ployed amounted to . . . 119,148 

 The number of seamen . . . 9,685 

 And the number of square yards of netting 



used in the herring fishery was . 76,661,187 



Valued at ... . £309,866 



And the value of boats employed . £211,585 



It would be difficult to give any correct estimate of the 

 capital employed by the fishcurers in Scotland; but when 

 it is known that in 1855 there were 1054 fishcurers 

 directly employed in purchasing herrings and curing 

 them for the home and foreign market, it may be sup- 

 posed that the capital put in circulation must be very great, 

 without reference to the amount circulated by those mer- 

 chants who principally carry on business in buying the 

 cured herrings. 



The more rapidly the manufactured articles cease to be 

 of use the more employment is offered to the people ; and 

 as the fishing vessels or boats last only a few years, and 

 the nets a shorter time, and as the barrels are generally 

 only available for one year, the continual employment 

 of great numbers of the working classes in procuring the 

 materials and making them is of no small advantage 

 to the community, and a ready sale is besides afforded 

 for numerous cargoes of hoops from the English, and 

 of wood from the Scottish forests, as well as from foreign 

 countries. 



We think it necessary thus to point out not only the 

 great extent, but also the great importance of the her- 



