^o6 THE SEA FISHERIES 



and certainly one of the most interesting accounts of the herring 

 fisheries in English is that by Simon Smith, who was agent for the 

 Koyal Fishery. 1 



At this time (1630-40) a typical herring-buss would be 7s ft 

 long overall, with a length of keel of 45 ft. The fore stem must fali 

 in length forwards 23 ft., and the stern post faUs backward 7 ft 

 The keel would be 18 in. deep at its fore part. 12 in. deep at its after 

 part and 14 m. broad. The depth from the keel to the uppermost 

 deck would be 10 ft.. 4 ft. from the lower deck to the keel, wherein 

 are ten double rooms, besides the net rooms for stowage. 



The cost of building such a herring-buss in the reign of Charles I 

 was £500. The cost of her fleet of fifty-six nets would be izyj, 

 stores, wages and victualling for a two months' voyage, £165. 

 Depreciation of the nets would be £70 and of the vessel £20 for the 

 voyage, total charges £255. The accommodation was for 412 

 barrels, and the estimate of profits was based on the assumption 

 that 400 barrels of herring would be caught and sold at one pound 

 per barrel, the gain being £145. It is to be feared that the hopes 

 entertained were far too sanguine, in fact, the history of the Fishery 

 Companies shows this. 



The herring fleet assembled off the coast of Shetland by the 

 beginning of June, " when the herrings do rise about Crane Head, 

 which is the headland or outmost part of Bratio Sownde " (Brassa 

 Sound). Here the herrings abide for fourteen days, when the 

 fishing was transferred to Farry Island (Fair Island), 7 leagues 

 south of the Shetland, for another three weeks. After that to 

 Buffin Ness (Buchan Ness), about 30 leagues to the southward of 

 Farry Island, the fishing place called Buf&n Deep, 20 leagues to 

 the northward of the Firth (of Forth) where the herring remain 

 for fourteen days, and fourteen days more on the fishing grounds 

 " under Chivet hils, and Chivet Chace." Thence to the Dogger- 

 bancke, where the fishery lasted a month or six weeks. Early in 

 September the fishing started off Yarmouth, where it lasted till 

 mid-November. It is certainly remarkable how this drift net 

 fishing for herring has persisted on the same grounds and at the 

 same seasons to the present day. 



Several different kinds of herring are specified. The " sea-sticks " 

 are as they are packed at sea. These are afterwards repacked on 

 shore, seventeen barrels of the sea-sticks making twelve repacked 



1 " The Herring-Busse Trade ; expressed in sundry particulars, both for the 

 building of Busses, making of deepe Sea-Nets, and other Appurtenances ; also the 

 right curing of the Herring for Forreine Vent. Together with sundry orders of the 

 Nitherlands, for the better Governement of the Royall Fishing ; as by the following 

 Treatise doth more at large appeare. All which hath bin perused by the Parliament 

 Committee, and is appointed to be published for the general Direction of the whole 

 Kingdome." Written by Simon Smith, Agent for the Royall Fishing, 1041. 



