MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
87 
Over-supply in a perishable commodity sends down the prices to 
such an extent that the fish positively do not pay for catching. 
The last season has been a forcible example of this, for with an 
almost unprecedented return, the autumn voyage has been oue of 
the most disastrous on record to all concerned. 
Herrings are now in the market the whole year round; but the 
spring voyage proper commences at Lowestoft towards the end of 
February ; and this year, as usual, the prices ruled low, in addition 
to which the catch was only 1804 lasts, or some 200 lasts less than 
in 1888. Sometimes not more than 4d. per 132 (£1 13s. 4d. per 
last) was realized; occasionally Gd., or 9d., and Is. per 132, or 
£5 per last, but the latter price was very exceptional. In addition 
to this, the trade was spoken of as in every way bad. At Yarmouth 
only 213 lasts were landed, against about double that quantity in 
the previous spring; but, as I have said before, the Yarmouth 
boats do not prosecuto the spring fishery to any extent. 
In the midsummer fishery the catches were very unequal, and 
the prices fluctuated accordingly from Is. Od. to 3s. 9d. per 132. 
As a rule the quality of the fish was very fine ; and, on the whole, 
the voyage is spoken of as having been very satisfactory ; but there 
were some remarkable exceptions to the rule. The catch in June 
and July at Lowestoft was 994 lasts, and at Yarmouth 378 lasts. 
In August and September the vessels are away on the North Sea 
voyage, and the Yarmouth boats, as a rule, bring their fish home 
salted, or land them at Yorkshire ports. Very few fish are landed 
at Lowestoft, owing to the nature of the trade carried on there. 
The quantity brought into Yarmouth was 3082 lasts, and to 
Lowestoft 239 lasts; in each case a decrease compared with 1888. 
With October the home autumn voyage commenced, and this is, 
of course, the important event of the year in the fishery. The opening 
at Lowestoft is described as exceedingly cheering; catches were good, 
and prices ranged from 3s. to 5s. per 132 (£15 to £25 per last); 
but towards the middle of October the autumnal gales for a 
time seriously interfered with the deliveries. This was followed, 
when the boats again got to sea, by a series of “gluts,” which 
sent the price down to £5, or even half that price per last. Then 
came more rough weather and short deliveries, the price going 
up in some instances to £17 per last. November, the harvest 
month for the Herring-fisher, commenced well, but in the second 
