90 
MU. T. SOUTHWELL ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
injured, and the fish valueless) than by the wear and tear generally 
experienced through bad weather. The loss to the owners and crews 
will be readily understood if, as I am informed, the estimated cost 
of catching a last of Herrings be correctly stated at £6, and the 
average price produced per last at the autumn fishing did not 
exceed £5 to <£5 5s. 
Nor is it at all certain that the merchants and curers will 
reap a great advantage from the low prices, for a well-informed 
correspondent tells me, “ the returns from the Italian markets 
are only six to seven shillings a barrel, and many not more than 
one to two shillings and sixpence a barrel for really good herrings; 
and I am afraid some will never be sold at all, and that the cost 
of the freight will have to be sent after them, except, perhaps, 
in case of the best brands.”'"' 
The same correspondent says : “ The Scotchmen can catch 
Herrings for £3 per last ; their expenses are not so heavy, and, of 
course, they are the owners and work economically. The whole 
fault of the Yarmouth system is too much expense all over. The 
boats are too costly in building and fitting out ; and as the men 
require so much in the way of provisions, the expenses are terribly 
heavy, and eat up any chance of profit. 
“ The question of over-production is an open one. Had there 
been a severe winter the quantity would have been easily disposed 
of ; a large quantity of our Herrings going to Italy and Germany, 
and with a cold winter and frost, find their way into South 
Germany and Northern Austria, where the peasants are very poor ; 
but the mild open winter makes the roads so bad as to stop 
travelling ; and, no doubt, the enormous quantity of fresh fish 
caught, — with the railway and steamboat facilities for distribution — 
does to some extent take the place of salt herrings.” 
I have no doubt the above is strictly correct, so far as the curers 
are concerned, but it is upon the owners and fishermen, who now 
* The above was written in February, 1890, and it will be seen that my 
friend’s prediction has been fully realised ; writing after this article was 
in type, lie says: “I send for your perusal an Italian letter, dated 29th April, 
which you will sec states that ‘owing to the advanced season some parcels still 
on hand will have to be thrown away, without obtaining anything at all.’ 
Another letter says : ‘ Some are placed in ice, hoping to keep them.” 5 
Of eleven examinations before the Registrar in Bankruptcy at Yarmouth 
on 11th of March, 1890, seven were of persons engaged in the fishing trade. 
