266 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



nets shall be used than the usual drift nets ; and if any 

 others are used for trawling or otherwise, or found in the 

 possession of any one on shore, or on board ship, the same 

 shall be liable to forfeiture. And by this Act no baskets 

 are permitted to be used in measuring and delivering fresh 

 herrings, but such as are one fourth of the legal cran 

 measure, or an integral portion of such measure, under the 

 penalties applied to the using crans of illegal measure. 



The early fishing of herrings at the Lewis Islands had 

 become by this time of some importance, although the 

 nature of the herring, from their peculiar richness and diffi- 

 culty of cure, makes the business rather hazardous. Such 

 herrings generally, however, if in good condition, obtain 

 high prices when brought early to market ; for instance, 

 a cargo of new herrings arrived at Stettin on the 21st of 

 May 1851, and sold for from 13 to 15 rix-dollars, or 

 from 39s. to 45s. per barrel ; but by the end of July 5700 

 barrels had arrived at Stettin, and the price had declined 

 by that time to 8 rix-dollars, or 24s. per barreh But so 

 large is the demand for the interiorof Germany, that 105,500 

 barrels of Scottish herrings were imported into Stettin 

 in 1851, besides 26,500 barrels of Norwegian herrings. 



We have already referred to the attempt to interfere 

 with the system of superintendence and inspection under 

 the Fishery Board ; and in strong confirmation of Mr 

 Lefevre's Eeport, we are glad to refer to the accom- 

 panying letter addressed to George Traill, Esq., M.P., in 

 1851, from one of the principal merchants in Stettin, 

 distinctly proving, that if the system is departed from, 

 the demand for the article will decline, and the fishery be 

 injured, and gradually destroyed: — 



" Sir, — I would have fulfilled my promise much sooner, 



