88 
MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
week “ the arrivals were simply enormous, and the prices ruinous.” 
Some of the Scotch boats made such catches as to spoil their 
nets, and many nets belonging to our home boats were sunk 
with the weight of fish. So matters went on through the whole 
of November, prices being driven down to almost nominal figures, 
£2, £1 5s., or even less, it is stated, having been paid per last, 
whilst £6 was realised in very few instances. The month 
produced 5403 lasts. In December the fishing flagged, and ended 
with 1390 lasts and disappointed hopes. 
From Yarmouth the reports are even more disheartening. In 
the early part of the month of October some little damage was done 
to the fishing gear by rough -weather, but “prime bloater stuff” 
realised from £15 to £20 per last, and salt fish £9 to £12. The 
deliveries were not excessive as a rule, and things looked fairly 
good ; but the month of November commenced with exceedingly 
heavy catches, which continued to the end of the fishing. Prices 
fluctuated slightly in accordance as the deliveries were more or 
less excessive, but, as a rule, were miserably low. In the week 
ending November 16th the catches -were enormous; a writer in the 
Yarmouth ‘Independent’ thus describes the sceneat the fish-wharf : — 
“ Never before in the memory of man has there been such a long 
continuance of fine weather during the November moon, nor such 
a tremendous shoal of Herrings on the fishing ground. Day after 
day it has been but one thing ; from daylight to dark the boats 
have come streaming up the river, full to the very utmost of their 
capacity. Words almost fail one to attempt to describe the state 
of paralysis into which the trade has fallen. Salt is, figuratively 
speaking, worth its weight in gold. Barrels are at a premium ; 
every available hole and corner has been utilised for storage ; 
men, women, and lasses have been working night and day to try 
and keep abreast of the work, but all in vain. Night after night 
lasts of Herrings have been left standing on the wharf and quay 
unable to be carted away, and yet the cry is, still they come. 
There has been no cessation whatever, as soon as one boat leaves 
the wharf another is ready to take its place. Thank goodness, the 
Scotchmen are just sick of it, the ‘home fever’ is setting in 
rapidly. What we really want now is a stiff breeze for a few days 
to keep all hands in and enable buyers to put their houses in order 
a bit, and get prepared for a few more The price for 
