Tenth Annual Report of the 
ebb and flow.in the great herring fisheries of Bohuslan. Years of 
abundance are followed by periods of no herring at all. One of the 
abundant periods has recently returned, and Sweden is now placing 
large numbers of cured herring on the German market. Norwegian 
herrings also are now being sent in large quantities to this country 
preserved fresh in ice, at prices which enable the fishermen at 
various parts of the coast to buy these herring for the purpose of 
bait Both in Norway and Sweden great efforts have been made 
in recent years to select, cure, and pack herrings according to the 
Scottish system. The Scotch curers formerly, after long persistent 
effort, guided and assisted by the Fishery Board of the day, were able 
to break down the practical monopoly of the Dutch, and to obtain a 
preponderating position in the great markets of the Continent. 
Germany j n imitation of this success, Sweden and Norway have taken 
HeHgoiald. 10111 steps to obtain an accurate knowledge of the Scottish system by 
sending Commissions over to study the methods of cure, and by 
inducing Scottish gutters and curers to proceed to these countries 
to teach the natives ; and the publications of the Fishery Board on 
the cure of herrings, such as the new branding regulations, and the 
reports of the Brand deputations have been published in extenso in 
Sweden, Norway, and Holland. Again, the German Government are 
building a harbour at Heligoland, to be a sort of depot for their 
fishermen in the North Sea, and from which fast steamers will 
run with cargoes of fish to Bremen, Hamburg, and other ports. 
There is thus much reason to apprehend that the Continental 
herring trade will not be in the future a source of greater 
wealth or as much wealth to the Scottish fisherman as in the 
past. 
increased beam 2. Comparing fishing for white fish as carried on by line fisher- 
dTcreaSnne men an( * beam trawlers, it is significant to observe that while from 
fishing. 1809 to 1884 or 1885 the returns show a continuous rise in the 
number of fishermen and fishing boats, since then there has been a 
continuous decline, which is chiefly accounted for by the fact that 
since the disastrous years in the herring trade of 1884 and 1885, 
East Coast fishermen have been compelled to do away to a great 
extent with crofter and halfdale fishermen, the boats being now 
better and more effectively manned. Steam line boats — a new kind 
of boat implying the possession of considerable capital, and which 
made their first appearance in 1887 — are increasing. Last year 
there were 19 such vessels sailing from Aberdeen, all manned by 
local fishermen except two. But the ordinary line fishing boats are 
going down in number, and the number of men to whom they 
give employment is also going down, while the trawling fleet is 
constantly receiving additions. This important fact is proved 
by the following statistics, which have been prepared from 
returns in the possession of the Board, and which are very 
instructive : — 
■ 1. Fishermen. — The number of fishermen and boys continuously 
employed in sea-fishing increased from 1882 to 1885, since which 
year the number has steadily decreased, The statistics are as 
follows : — 
