428 
MR. T. J. WIGG ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
X. 
NOTES ON THE HERRING FISHERY OF 1911. 
By T. J. Wigg. 
Read joth April , igu. 
A fairly good start was made during the first week in 
October, although the fishing fleet was not nearly at its full 
strength. During the second week, the majority of North 
country boats had arrived and were fishing from the port of 
Yarmouth. Only a few sailing boats put in an appearance, 
and about thirty of these were fitted with motors, which 
make them as handy for working in and out of the harbour 
as steam drifters. The number of local luggers engaged in 
the fishing this year was also less than last season. This 
all tended to facilitate the easier working of the fleet in the 
harbour, and probably saved the blocks ” which have 
occurred in past years. ' 
Some anxiety was felt by fishermen when it was reported 
that trawlers had been among the herring shoals, and there 
were deep murmurs of opposition to the practice, as it was 
felt that there was a probability of great destruction among 
the spawn and immature fish if the practice w r as continued. 
A correspondent to the Eastern Daily Press points out that 
it is well known that excessive and unreasonable trawling 
has nearly destroyed the haddock fishery, and other white 
fisheries in the North Sea and in other places. The destruc- 
tion of immature fish and the practical annihilation of the 
lower forms of life on which fishes feed has thus become a 
| 
national disaster. 
During the last two weeks of October about 850 boats 
were working out of Y'armouth, and the harbour presented a 
wonderful picture at the week end, when all the Scotch fleet 
