7G 
MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON THE HERRING FISHERY, 
One tiling only is certain, and that is, our unpardonable ignorance 
and indifference with regard to the whole matter. 
Early in the autumn fishery, the numbers of Herring brought in 
were very large indeed ; and it is reported that in very many 
instances whole cargoes were sold for manure, the fish being in 
such a condition as to make it imjDossible for them to undergo the 
curing process. Many fish were sold at prices varying according 
to quality (or rather want of quality) from 25s. to £'4 per last, so 
utterly bad was the sample. These low prices nded more or less 
during the whole season, simply owing to the worthless character 
of the fish : for no sooner did an occasional cargo of superior quality 
come in, than it was readily disposed of at prices varying from £12 
to even £20 per last. Indeed the most noticeable features (next 
to the enormous supply) during the whole season have been, the 
inferior quality of the fish, and the excellent prices commanded by 
the few lots of prime fish which were occasionally brought in. 
It is true, that towards the close of the season the equality of the 
fish somewhat improved ; but as the November Herrings are always 
regarded as the choicest produce of the season, this was only what 
might be expected. It is nevertheless a fact, that the whole 
East Coast Herring Fishery, from Wick soutlnvard, has been 
unprecedentedly bad both in quality and prices. The fish which 
I saw landed at Peterhead, in August, were precisely the same in 
quality as those landed on the Yarmouth fish-wharf two months 
later, and the Scotch carers suffered most severely, as did both 
owners and men at our own ports. 
Two things appear obvious from a careful study of the reports 
of the past season’s fishery : first, that we commence too soon, in 
fact, as will be seen from the table appended, the fishery is going 
on during the whole year Avhenever there is a fisli to be got ; and 
secondly, that we take a great many Herring which never ought to 
be removed from the sea. Speaking of the spring fishery, the late 
Mr. Buckland very justly condemned the destruction of such fish, 
and declared that they were not fit food for pigs, and onl}^ 
serviceable for bait or manure. l\[r. de Caux says the full-grown 
North Sea Herring should measure from 10 to 11 inches in 
length ; I have repeatedly measured Spring Herring which did not 
exceed 7-^ to 8 inches in length. It is notorious tliat, were nets of 
proper size of mesh used, taking such fish would be an impossibility. 
