294 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



long. The netting has been every year expanding, in 

 consequence of the shoals contracting. The poorest dis- 

 tricts use. the finest and most extended netting. In 1818, 

 the netting in all Scotland did not exceed 10,000,000 

 square yards, and with that we took 340,894 barrels, while 

 it appears by the Fishery Eeport of last year that we em- 

 ployed 80,031,507 square yards, and caught 766,703 barrels, 

 showing that with eight times the extent of netting we 

 were able only to double the herrings caught. 



" The late Mr Wilson of the Board of Fisheries has 

 settled the character of ground on which the herring- 

 spawns, — see ' Blackwood's Magazine' for April or May 

 last. Were the Government anxious to aid the fisheries, 

 they ought to survey the ocean bottom, and map it out, 

 and let us see at least the portions on which the herring 

 cannot spawn. They never spawn on sand ; I beheve it 

 must be rough ground. At all events, something must be 

 done. Our summer shoals are now so reduced that we 

 must change our time and the place for fishing ; new 

 ground must be sought, longer voyages made, or we must 

 take to winter in place of summer fishing. We must get 

 deep and safe harbours. 



" I believe, till the matter be viewed in the light I have 

 done, this fishery is lost. My view is most unpalatable to 

 all engaged in the trade ; and they have so long looked on 

 the herrings as being as enduring as the ocean, that my 

 doctrines have been spit upon by them. — I am, your 

 obedient servant, John Cleghorn." 



Were any additional evidence requisite to prove the 

 great advantages of the system of inspection and superin- 

 tendence by the fishery ofiicers, we would suggest the 

 perusal of a very able pamphlet, written at this time by 



