of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



501 



manned by from 8 to 10 men ; making a total of 485 vessels and boats, 

 and about 5600 men. It is interesting to note the progress which the 

 Dutch herring fishery has made in recent years. In 1859 the number 

 of vessels (logger's en sloepen) prosecuting the great fishery was 79, which 

 caught and cured 1656 lasts, valued at 564,500 florins; the number 

 of boats prosecuting the small or coast fishing for fresh herrings was, 

 in the same year, 178, the catch of herrings being 27,768,700, valued 

 at about 444,288 florins. Since then the number of boats and vessels 

 have increased year by year, and those engaged in the ' great ' fishery off 

 the British coasts have been greatly improved in build, and are much 

 swifter than the old style of vessel. Thus in 1867 there were 85 of the 

 old Dutch hoekers and sloops and 4 luggers and cutters ; in 1891 the 

 number of the former was only 7, and of the latter 199. The number of 

 herring-vessels and boats in 1891 was 23 more than in 1890, and 46 

 more than in 1889. These facts, which contrast with the conditions in 

 Scotland during recent years, indicate with what success the Dutch are 

 striving to regain their ancient position as the purveyors of pickled 

 herrings to the Continent. Steamers were employed as 'jagers,' or 

 carrying boats, to bring the early cured fish rapidly to market ; the first 

 arrived at Vlaardingen on 22nd June with 101 barrels of fulls and 307f 

 matties, collected from 94 vessels, and the price obtained was from 79 to 

 189 florins for fulls, and from 17 to 67 florins for matties. These facts 

 should be kept in view in considering questions of close times for herring 

 on the east coast of Scotland. The total catch was 349,781 barrels, or 

 74,000 less than in 1890. As 14 barrels go to the last, it will be seen 

 (supra) that in 1859 the catch was only 23,184 barrels. 



Of the 13,362 lasts cured last year, 10,687 were fulls, 407 matties, 

 1115 spawning fish (knit- en homzieke), and 828 spents. The total value 

 of the herrings caught in 1891 was as follows : — 



Great Herring Fishery in North Sea — 



Brought by ' Jagers,' .... 33,000 florins. 

 Pickled and ' roused ' herrings brought 



by sloops and luggers, . . . 2,949,000 „ 

 Coast Fishery, with 1 bomscludtenj both pickled 

 and ' roused ' — 



Scheveningen, 2,300,000 „ 



Katwijk, . . . . . . 631,000 „ 



Noordwijk, 116,800 „ 



6,030,000 florins. 



This is equal to £502,500. In 1886, the value was 4,017,900 florins ; 

 in 1887, 3,769,840 florins j in 1890, 5,909,495 florins. The exports of 

 herrings in 1891 amounted to 32,754,000 kilogrammes, or 218,360 barrels, 

 of which 177,373 barrels went to Germany, 21,920 to Belgium, 10,547 to 

 America, and to - all other places,' 8520. The export of smoked herrings 

 (bokking) was 36,459,000, Belgium taking 18,666,000, and Germany, 

 17,793,000. The import of herrings was only 710 barrels. 



In the large and trawl-net fishery a considerable number of vessels were 

 employed. From Vlaardingen, 39 vessels took part in the 1 beugvaart ' 

 fishery, making 116 journeys, and bringing in 5655 barrels of salted fish 

 and 524 barrels of salted ling. The trawl-fishing was prosecuted by 

 Scheveningen luggers. The statistics relating to the large and trawl-net 

 fishings from 1st November 1890 to 12th July 1891, show that 119 boats 

 were engaged, making 527 journeys, and bringing back the following 

 quantities of living fish : — Cod and ling, 41,932 ; haddocks, 439,585 ; 

 halibut, 174; rays, 2607 ; thornbacks (Meet), 502 ; and 6009 barrels of 



