338 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



1861. 

 Dec. 10. Sixty boats full of sprats, mixed with full-sized herrings. About 



ten boats got herrings near Inchkeith, large, full herrings, — 



about 2000 each. 

 11, 12. Stormy, no herring boats out ; but boats with full cargoes of 



sprats — some large, and also young, herrings among them. 

 13, 14. Boats with herrings, five or six crans off Newhaven ; off 



North Berwick, 200 to 400 herrings ; Burntisland, and above 



Inchcolm, 2000 to 5000 herrings each. 

 16, 17, and 18. Opened a cod — in stomach two ful]-.sized flounders, 



two lobsters about 12 inches — a codling, four small crabs, 



four prawns, &c., in stomach. Herrings from Inchkeith, 



each boat eight crans. Sprats left ground above the Ferry, — 



fishermen say caused by spring-tides ; they are now below 



Ferry. 



19. Opened a cod 3 feet in length, — two full-si^ed herrings, three 



young gurnards about 8 inches, and some debris, no sprats, 

 in stomach. 



20, 21. Boats from east of Inchkeith, 2000 to 4000 herrings ; a few 



boats with sprats and small herrings. 

 23, Monday. Herring-boats fished west of Granton, and got 2000 

 to 4000 herrings each. 



1862. 



Jan. 7. Sprats scarce west of Queensferry. Some boats got ten to twelve 

 barrels east of Queensferry. Full-sized herrings fished near 

 Inchkeith (east of it), about four or five crans u-p to the end 

 of last month. These three or four days the boats fishing 

 from the Queensferry dowa to Leith Pier (seen from shore), 

 and got from four to six crans. Examined eight herrings 

 fished to-day : — 



Examined 1 haddock, about 18 inches — in stomach, whole 

 and broken shells and some debris ; also a codling about 

 1 5 inches — two small crabs and small pieces of fishes. 

 9. Boats at sprats below Ferry ; several taken possession of by 



