MR. T. J. WIGG ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
429 
were in port. The boats were moored as close as it was 
possible to berth them, and in places they lay six deep from 
the quay. 
During the following week the Yarmouth Fish Market 
presented a remarkable spectacle, being crowded with 
herrings from end to end. The breeze had driven many 
boats in that otherwise might have remained out, and many 
of them had lost nets. The catches ranged from 200 crans 
down, and the boats were so well fished that the average was 
probably not less than 60 crans, but there were cases where 
half a fleet of nets were lost. Hundreds of horses and carts 
were busily engaged all day, and every hand found full 
employment in the curing yards and on the pickling plots. 
The poor fishing on the east coast of Scotland made those 
acquainted with the herring trade approach East Anglia 
with something like fear and trembling. The steam drifters, 
it was alleged by the growlers, had so harried the fishing 
grounds that the days of successful fishing were over. Here, 
again, the unexpected happened, and both at Yarmouth and 
Lowestoft catches have been landed that for quality and 
quantity have never been surpassed in the herring trade. 
Yarmouth and Lowestoft have broken all records in the 
herring fishery, the catches day by day during the early part 
of November being enormous. The large quantity of fish 
landed used up most of the salt of quite a number of fish 
curers, both at Yarmouth and at Lowestoft, and it was 
feared that a dearth of the useful preservative would entail 
a serious loss of fish. However, several cargoes were 
delivered at the Fish Wharf, and the salt “ famine ” was 
relieved. 
The stormy weather experienced during the latter part of 
November retarded the fishing to a great extent, and a 
number of boats left the port and returned to their northern 
homes. Notwithstanding the abrupt close of the season, it 
has been the most successful known in the herring trade lor 
VOL. ix. 
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