310 MR. T. J. VVIGG ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
this port for safety, and helped to swell the big fleets already 
in port. From the Ballast Quay up to the ferry, Scotch boats 
lay end on, and on the Gorleston side hundreds of boats 
were moored, but finding the ‘ range ’ very heavy great 
numbers sailed Yarmouthwards, and very soon right up to 
the bridge fishing craft lay moored four and five deep, and 
completely put an end to navigation. Looking from the 
bridge only a very narrow channel could be seen, while on 
all sides a vast forest of masts and funnels could be seen as 
far as the eye could reach. There was, however, no blockade 
such as used to be the case, and great credit is due to the 
harbour staff for the able way in which they manipulated 
the business under very trying circumstances.” 
With the first week in December, preparations were made 
by the Scotch for a return to the North. Numbers of men 
and women could be seen day by day wending their way 
to their boats or lodgings loaded with parcels, in many cases 
one might well say overloaded. Local tradesmen must have 
benefited very greatly at a time when business would other- 
wise be notably quiet. It is estimated that Yarmouth has 
been visited during the fishing season by considerably more 
than 14,000 people, all connected with the Herring fishery, 
and their spending would average about 20s. per week. The 
Scotch boats as a rule have done remarkably well during the 
fishing, as prices have ruled high, and, with the exception of 
a few days, the weather was very favourable for fishing. 
Some of the Scotch crews have earned for six weeks’ work, 
sums varying from £ 200 to £600 each, while the steam drifters 
— Scottish and English alike — mostly reckon their earnings 
in four figures. 
About half a million of money has been paid at Yarmouth 
and Lowestoft together for fish as taken out of the boats. 
This is no exaggerated estimate, and means that fishermen 
and boat owners have had one of the best seasons in the 
history of the Herring trade. While the fishermen have thus 
reaped a rich harvest, it is very unfortunate that those who 
find the capital for the Herring industry cannot be congratu- 
lated on similar grounds. When Herrings are fairly plentiful 
