536 
MR. T. J. WIGG ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
X. 
NOTES ON THE HERRING FISHERY OF 1902. 
By T. J. Wigg, 
Honorary Secretary Great Yarmouth Section. 
Read HJyth February , 1903. 
In again presenting my notes on the Herring Fishery, I have to 
chronicle the events of a most unprecedented season. In fact there 
is so much to talk about that I hardly know where, or how to 
commence. The change from a holiday-making resort, with the 
sea-front thronged with visitors, and the streets noisy with the 
rush of well-filled brakes, to the bustle of the Herring Fishery, 
cannot fail to impress even the most casual observer. The town 
reeks of fish and the Herring is in evidence from Wharf to 
curing houses and railway stations. 
If the thousands of people who flock to Yarmouth during the 
summer months only realised what October would enable them to 
see, they would certainly wish that their holiday could be extended. 
The scene on the Fish Wharf and its surroundings can hardly be 
described. During my visits to the South Denes I was struck 
with the vast quantities of all kinds of material required in the 
preparation of the Herring. Here were piles on piles of barrels, 
thousands of swills, and there, hundreds of women, chiefly Scotch, 
at the enormous troughs containing the Herrings to be pickled. 
Thence I went to the Fish Wharf, where I found that not only 
was the whole covered market occupied by the “ silver beauties,” 
but almost every foot of ground beside the river was covered 
with “ swills ” or with barrels full of Herrings, while the scene 
was quite beyond my powers of description. 
The Autumn fishing at Yarmouth began in earnest during the 
second week in October, and continued without intermission up 
to December 20th, while a few boats actually worked during 
Christmas week. 
The main features of the fishing have been enormous catches 
