MR. f. J. WIGG ON' THE HERRING FISHERY. 
7f>3 
XI. 
NOTES ON THE HERRING FISHERY OF 1908. 
By T. J. Wigg. 
Read 2yd February, 1009. 
The 1908 Herring Season at Yarmouth has been a time of 
woi ry and anxiety for many of those who are interested in 
the harv est of the sea. For instance, before the commence- 
ment of the autumn fishing a proposal was made by the Port 
and Haven Commissioners to levy a toll of is. 8d. per last in 
addition to the is. 8d. per last already imposed by the 
Yarmouth Corporation. The boat owners find but little fault 
with the Corporation on account of this latter toll, as they are 
well aware that the ( orporation spare no pains to maintain the 
fish wharf and find market accommodation for the fish- 
merchants and others who visit the port. With the Port 
and Haven Commissioners, however, the case is different. 
This body, say the boat-owners, spends the bulk of its income 
on dredging, making deep water quays and other work for 
the accommodation of vessels of heavy tonnage. Influential 
deputations waited upon the Commissioners, with the result 
that a compromise was effected and the toll was reduced from 
is. 8d. to is. jd. per last. This was accepted with anything 
but good grace, and it is feared that the revenue from the 
Herring Fishery at Yarmouth will be greatly diminished next 
year. 
The Herring Season commenced at Yarmouth and Lowestoft 
about the second week in October, but during that week very 
small catches were brought to the fishwharf. Business at 
sea and ashore was greatly impeded by the dense fogs which 
prevailed on two or three days. Small catches were the rule 
during the month of October; but during the first week of 
November some very heavy catches were brought to the 
