14 BRITISH FISHERIES 



j^7000-^8ooo yearly) was, for a time, destroyed. 

 It was only after a winter of much severity and 

 hardship, after an unsuccessful action for interdict 

 in the Court of Session by the sprat fishermen, 

 and after " imminent risk of conflict and blood- 

 shed," that sprat fishing was allowed within a 

 specified boundary. The Act of 1861 also pro- 

 hibited herring fishing on the whole west coast of 

 Scotland during the first half of the year, and this 

 caused much hardship. In Mull the seine-net 

 had been used for catching such fishes as saithe, 

 mackerel, and flounders, and the Trawling Acts 

 made this illegal. They also made the cod and 

 ling fishery impossible, for to catch these fishes 

 fresh herrings were used as bait, and to catch 

 herrings during the close season was illegal. The 

 Sheriff of Skye, writing on this matter, said : — 

 " Last year, 1861, the herring fishery was a failure, 

 and the crops both of corn and potatoes were 

 lamentably deficient, the former to the extent 

 of nearly one-half, and the latter to the extent of 

 two-thirds. To add to what must have been the 

 sufferings from deficient food, the fuel of the 

 country, peats, had only been partially secured, 

 and was scanty and bad. There was no cry of 

 destitution, no appeal to the public for relief ; and 

 though, through that dreary winter, herrings came 

 to the coast, and the people were prevented from 

 taking them, no resistance was made ; and four 

 policemen, sent from Argyleshire for the purpose. 



