WHEN THE HERRINGS ARE ON THE COASTS. 27 



strike," and the fishing is therefore scanty. Anxious to 

 make an experiment as to the effect of light in attracting 

 them to the net, we went out with one of the fisher- 

 men's boats to the middle of the Firth of Forth, during 

 the winter fishing, in the month of January, and used 

 large lighted flambeaux after the nets were thrown out, 

 and moved them in various directions round the boat in 

 the course of tlie night ; but the weather being intensely 

 cold, the fish were scarce, and, as the fishermen said, " did 

 not rise," or rather remained quiescent below. At all 

 events, the lights did not seem to be effectual in adding 

 any great additional quantity to the take of the boat we 

 were in, as compared with what was caught by the other 

 boats. It is worth stating, however, that such was the 

 deceitful nature of the lights of the flambeaux in such a 

 situation, that the flsliermen in the boats at no very 

 great distance were alarmed, and prepared to take up their 

 nets, supposing that the lights indicated the approach 

 of a steamer. 



We have also witnessed the fishing in summer on the 

 west coast and in the Highland lochs, where the herrings 

 periodically appear. Here the risk and labour are far 

 less to the fishermen, although the quantity taken is 

 generally smaller. Surrounded by lofty hills, and shel- 

 tered in deep bays, the* fisherman plies his pleasant call- 

 ing in comparative ease and safety. We have been 

 several times out with the boats to witness the progress 

 of the fishery, but excepting now and then seeing the 

 waters at night shining with the phosphorescent light from 

 the herring moving quietly along, or quiescent in the 

 water, nothing otherwise indicated that herrings were 

 near. 



We have learned some important facts by accompanying 



