PERIODICAL VISITS OF THE HERUING. 65 



I am indebted for the above information to a very talented 

 and graphic description of the Moray Frith herring- 

 fishery, written by the author of " Poems, by a Journey- 

 man Mason" — the celebrated Hugh Miller. From 1816 

 to 1820 their visits were more regular, and the fishery 

 successful. After this period there was a falling off ; but 

 in 1841 the fishery was an abundant one, and in 1855 

 nearly 400 boats were well filled every night from the 

 1st to the 5th September. 



Fraserhurgli. — Along the coast from Banff to Fraser- 

 burgh, herrings are generally caught of similar quality, 

 and about the same time. The shoals off Fraserburgh 

 are often very large. In the latter part of the month of 

 August 1816 the herrings came in close to the shore, and 

 for some days the fishing-boats were loaded with herrings 

 of the finest quality ; and from Kinnaird-Head the shoals 

 were seen to be pursued by a numerous body of whales, 

 amounting to about 100, accompanied by great numbers 

 of sea-fowl. 



Off Budianness they generally appear in great abun- 

 dance every year. The Dutch fishermen, who often get 

 here their greatest supply, begin fishing here about the 

 1st of July. 



Aberdeen. — A successful herring-fishery was commenced 

 in 1836 off the coast at Aberdeen, and herrings are caught 

 of superior quality, as early as the middle of July ; since 

 then generally every year. They appear on various parts 

 of the coasts from thence to the Tay about the same time ; 

 but those got near the shore are larger and of a coarser 

 quality than the herrings of the Moray Frith and neigh- 

 bourhood, for they are generally as large as the sixth 

 class. 



Tuy. — Formerly in the Tay, for several years succes- 



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