CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY, 285 



attempt to fish within the limits, but purchase skate, 

 which is taken in very large quantities, but no other fish. 

 They are always well received, as good customers for a 

 kind of fish otherwise very unsaleable. 



" They object to the regulations of the Convention re- 

 quiring the sails to be marked with oil paint. It rots the 

 canvas in a short time ; and the regulation has been modi- 

 fied by the Inspecting Commander permitting the substi- 

 tution of coal tar, which is quite harmless even in tar- 

 paulins. It is'ascertained , that when paid with coal tar, they 

 will last double the time as when Stockholm tar is used. 



" Mr Nicholas Smith, President of the Friendly Society 

 of Fishermen, called on me, and stated trawling is the 

 only mode resorted to for the capture of flat fish. They 

 are never taken by spillards or long-lines, which are only 

 used for taking cod and ling. 



" There is scarcely ever any trawling in the bay from May 

 to November, — these are wdiat are called fence months ; 

 but trawling, even within that time, would not do half 

 the mischief that is done by seines hauled on shore, by 

 which thousands of the young of turhot and other fish are 

 taken in places where the traivlers could not ivorli. From 

 November they trawl within the bay productively, except 

 when the herrings fall in, in which case they desist. Fish 

 certainly spawn in the shoal water, and on sands protected 

 by rough ground. About November it is usual for a large 

 number of the boats, 30 or 40, to proceed to Hull, to 

 Ramsgate, or to Tenby. Only the owners of the new and 

 well appointed boats venture on these voyages. When 

 they go, they regularly break up their establishments at 

 home, and take their moveables and families with them, 

 shutting up their houses. The Mount's Bay herring- 

 fishers, and those from Worthing, Rye, and Ramsgate, 



