298 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



and long lines ; and it is quite cheering to see the New- 

 haven fishwives at their doors either baiting the hooks or 

 mending nets. The only fixed engines which they use 

 are turbot nets of fine twine, 7 inches from knot to knot, 

 or 14-inch mesh. They are generally seven meshes deep, 

 about 60 fathoms long, with corks at top, and heavy stones 

 fixed by loops about two fathoms asunder. 



" Such a thing as a trawling vessel is scarcely known 

 in the Firth. This seems to me to be about the most 

 prosperous fishing community I have ever seen. In their 

 contiguity to Edinburgh, their orderly habits, great per- 

 severing industry, and the indefatigable co-operation of 

 their women, all combined, one can easily find the causes 

 of their success. 



" I saw quite enough to impress me with the vast im- 

 portance, the great magnitude of the herring-fishery on 

 the East Coast of Scotland. It is quite evident that a great 

 deal of excitement and anxiety prevails among persons 

 interested in the trade, on the subject of the proposed 

 abolition of the branding system, and consequent reduc- 

 tion of the Fishery Establishment. The subject being at 

 present under the consideration of a Commission appointed 

 by the Government, it would not be becoming in me to 

 venture any opinion upon the expediency of relinquishing 

 altogether the practice of branding ; but I should not only 

 fear that the absence of all superintendence would be 

 highly prejudicial to the British fisheries, but would tend 

 to diminish materially the hopes which I have formed of 

 seeing the growing germ of an enterprising spirit on the 

 part of our own East Coast fishermen not checked in its 

 bud. Notwithstanding the high standard of moral con- 

 duct which I am willing to recognise in our North British 

 neighbours, I should be very unwilling to advise Irish 



