OFF THE EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 91 



coast and numbers of fisliermen be engulfed, such we are given 

 to understand is an unavoidable accident, incidental to marine 

 fisheries and incapable of remedy. 



Before, however, we accept this summary method of disposing 

 of the subject, some questions must force themselves on our 

 notice. Eirst of all, we are led to inquire what proportion of 

 persons are now engaged in this occupation to the numbers that 

 were so emp)loyed at the commencement of the present century ? 

 Do we find the augmented takes due to increased facilities of 

 capture, larger ventures in fisheries, or simply owing to the fish 

 being more abundant ? 



Mr. G-raham* observes that 1825 is the earliest date in 

 which confidence can be placed; and I find that the number of 

 barrels of cured herrings have gradually augmented from 379 

 thousand cured in Scotland and the .N.E. coast of England, until 

 they have reached to upwards of a million during the last two 

 years, while the fishermen and boys have increased by almost 

 4000. The proportion of the number of fishermen to barrels of 

 herrings cured has averaged as follows : — 



6 years 1825 to 1830, 1 fisherman to 8 barrels of herrings. 



But when we inquire into the gear employed, we are told that 

 cotton nets with a fivefold increased catching-surface came into 

 use some time about 1853 (?), and have superseded the hempen 

 ones. But the amount captured does not appear to have kept 

 pace with these mcreased killing powers ; for if so, the fishermen, 

 who from 1825 to 1850 using hemp nets obtained from 8 to 10 

 barrels per man, should now, had the proportions continued equal, 

 be capturing from 40 to 50 barrels instead of about 22. 



* The whole of the fishermen and boys engaged in sea-fisheries are included ; 

 but as the proportion employed in the various branches continues about the 

 same, the fluctuations would be of probably slight amount. 



7* 



