Trawling for Herring on the Coasts of Scotland. 121 
an instance of the singular fluctuations of the herring 
fishery. In a period of nearly forty years, the two most 
productive years have been 1860 and 1862. In the 
first of these years the second Act of repression was just 
passed, but trawling was still actively carried on, and had 
been in more or less active operation for fifteen years. 
It was only effectually put down by the Act of 1861. 
The good returns of these two years prove beyond a 
doubt that trawling has not injured the fishery of Loch 
Fyne. 
17. These conclusions as to the steady increase of the fishery 
in Loch Fyne, negative the assertion that the trawlers 
scared away the shoals of fish when entering the lochs. 
18. The evidence laid before us, and the experience of the Irish, 
Norwegian, Newfoundland, and Labrador fisheries, prove 
that trawled fish, when properly handled, are fit for the 
purposes of the curer. The reason of their occasional 
inferiority for this purpose is the reckless mode of pur- 
suing a system of fishing in the constant apprehension 
of being caught in the violation of the law. 
19. Trawling for herring has been an important means of 
cheapening fish to the consumer, by the large and sudden 
takes, and has thrown into the market an abundant sup- 
ply of wholesome fresh fish, at prices which enable the 
poor to enjoy them without having to come into compe- 
tition with the curer. 
20. It is this circumstance which, in our opinion, has produced 
the demand for repressive legislation, for the gains of 
the drift-net fishermen are much affected by the sudden 
and great captures of the trawler, who, working with 
less capital, and with a more productive kind of labour, 
is able to undersell the drift-net fisherman, and to de- 
range the market for the curers. It is to be observed, 
that as facilities of locomotion and transport increase, 
the market for fresh fish becomes more important than 
that for salt fish, and the former suffers if any special 
protection be afforded to the latter. As regards Loch 
Fyne, the number of barrels of herrings sold fresh already 
considerably exceeds that cured. From 1844 to 1853, 
55,247 barrels were cured, and 77,137 barrels were 
consumed in a fresh state. From 1854 to 1862, 
129,000 barrels were cured, and 168,530 barrels con- 
sumed fresh. 
21. The demand for repressive legislation is only another form 
of that which always arises when a new and more pro- 
NEW SERIES.—VOL, XVIII. NO. I.—JULY 18638. Q 
