MR. T. J. WIC.G ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
97 
IX. 
NOTES ON THE HERRING FISHERY OF 1904. 
By T. J. Wigg. 
Honorary .Secretary Great Yarmouth Section. 
Read 28 th March, 1905. 
“ Away to the East at the dawn of day, 
The boats sail out o’er the sleeping bay ; 
The clanging of chains and the creak of oar 
Are echoed back to the silent shore. 
Father, protect them through the night, 
And bring them home in the morning light.” — Moir. 
What can bo said of the Herring Fishery that has not been 
said before ? What new light can be thrown on this harvest 
of the sea ? 
The autumn fishing of 1904 opened somewhat later than 
for some years past, and the outlook for the first week or 
two was anything but satisfactory. Taking into consideration, 
however, the fact that there are thousands of boats (both 
steam and sailing) ever after the Herrings from January to 
December, the wonder is that there are any Herrings left at 
all, unless we may assume that they are of separate families 
off different parts of the coast of our islands. Fortunately 
this fish is wonderfully prolific, and multiplies exceedingly, 
so that each annual fishing finds the much sought for 
“ dainties ” in never ceasing millions, and the boats sail or 
steam away in increasing numbers year by year to gather 
them in. 
VOL. vm. 
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