CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY, 335 



" 1st, That whoever has in his possession, or sells, or 

 offers to sell, herrings or herring fry, known to have 

 been taken on the said West Coast of Scotland dur- 

 ing close-time, shall be liable to a penalty of not less 

 than L5, and not exceeding L.20, for every offence, be- 

 sides the forfeiture of such herrings and herring fry, 

 and of any boat, box, or package in which they may be 

 found, 



" 2d, Any person defacing, altering, or in any way en- 

 deavouring to conceal the marks or numbers enacted by 

 law, on any boat, sail, herring net, or other implements, 

 shall be liable to a penalty of not less than L.2, and not 

 exceeding L.IO. 



" 3cZ, The Commissioners of the British White Herring- 

 Fishery may, by regulations to be made by them, suspend 

 the operations of this and the preceding Acts, within such 

 part of the Firth of Forth as is situate to the westward 

 of a straight line drawn across the Forth, from the west 

 pier of South Queensferry on the south side, through 

 Bimer Beacon, to the shore on the north side, to such 

 extent and for such period as they shall judge fit, so as 

 to admit of the sprat fishing." 



Having thought it might be interesting to keep a journal 

 of the progress of the winter herring fishery on the Firth 

 of Forth, we took notes of the results of the fishing as far 

 as could be ascertained ; and although not so perfect as 

 might be wished, the following may serve the purpose 

 proposed, to prove the peculiar nature of the winter fish- 

 ing of 1861-62 :— 



Journal of the Winter Herring Fishery in the Forth, 1861-C2. 



1861. 



Oct. 28. First boat went out to try for herrings, and came in from off 

 Granton with 700 herrings. Another from luchkeitli,, witli 

 only one or two herrings. 



