NOTES AND QUERIES. 



83 



and are shoveled and basketed wholesale into boats and carts. This 

 season, on Nov. 8th or 9th, the Herrings were observed inside the 

 wall on the Mayo side and nets placed across the outlet, when an 

 immense number were entrapped and kept inside until the tide left 

 the banks, and then the grandest take of Herrings ever known in the 

 estuary was obtained by two men, assisted by their families. One 

 man named Boyd, assisted by his brothers and sisters, captured be- 

 tween 25,000 and 26,000, while his neighbour Patterson got 14,000. 

 The former obtained £48 from a dealer, besides selling several thousands 

 to other parties, and giving away a large quantity to the owners of 

 horses and carts who assisted in carrying the fish to the dealer in 

 Ballina. It was a grand haul for these two men for only part of a 

 day's work, Boyd receiving over £50 for his part of the fish. After 

 this great take Herrings remained for about a week in the estuary, 

 and then left for the bay, when a gale of northerly wind set in. 

 During the time they were in the estuary they were harried every 

 night by a fleet of eighteen boats, but the takes were very irregular, 

 varying from one to two thousand a boat down to a few hundreds. — 

 Robert Warren (Moy View, Ballina). 



Zool 4th ser vol. XIII.. January. 1909. 



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