The Herring Fishery. 51 



from the Yarmouth decked lugger of 60 tons to the frail 

 canvas canoe or curragh of the West of Ireland, the number 

 of men and the quantity of net varying with the size of the 

 boats. 



The weight of fish carried from the Great Eastern rail- 

 way stations in 1874 was as follows : — 



Tons. 

 Yarmouth ... ... ... ... 27,517 



Lowestoft ... ... ... ... 23,861 



Harwich ... ... ... ... 2,509 



53.887 



In addition to the above, about 20,000 tons of trawl fish 

 are sent to Billingsgate every year by carrying cutters and 

 steamers from the Yarmouth fleets of trawHng vessels in 

 the North Sea. This would give 47,864 tons from Yar- 

 mouth alone, and including Lowestoft and Harwich, 74,234 

 tons of fish. To this must be added a very large quantity 

 sent by steamers to London, Newcastle, Hull, etc., and 

 many ship-loads exported to ports in the Mediterranean. 



A very important trade, that of kippering herrings, has, 

 during the last few years, been introduced into Yarmouth, 

 mainly through the energy and enterprise of Mr. John 

 Woodger. Herrings for kippering must be of the very 

 best quality, and no salt is used in this process. The 

 entrails of the fish are taken out ; they are then carefully 

 washed, and hung up in the smoking-house for a few hours. 

 Large numbers of women are employe^ by the kipper 

 merchants, and it is supposed that more than 1000 lasts of 

 herrings are now yearly required for this trade alone. 



The quantity of herrings landed at the fish wharf, 

 Yarmouth, between August and December, is about 18,000 

 lasts. It is estimated that a last of freshly caught herrings 

 weighs about two tons. Probably over 1000 lasts in each 



