MB. C. STACY-WATSON OX THE HERRING FISHERY. 
55 
tempted some of the buyers to speculate freely, and to experiment 
in change of cure and market. This fishing may be regarded as 
very good, and encouraging to the fishermen for future effort, 
especially if the area of distribution can be increased. 
North Sea and Home Fishings. — By the time the Midsummer 
fishing ended, the shipyards and quays were scenes of activity, 
carpenters, riggers, engineers and painters, owners and men busily 
engaged in getting their boats ready for their natural element, and 
equipping them for the approaching campaign. Some of the 
earliest to take to the briny sailed away to the North countree , and 
during the first few weeks fished off the coast of Aberdeenshire 
in groups, according to ownership ; the catch of the several boats 
being transferred to one, which, turning her nose southward, 
bowled merrily along, anxious to catch a good market. Others of 
these “early worms” of the fleet stopped short to fish off the 
Northumberland and Yorkshire coasts ; running their catches into 
Shields, Whitby, Scarborough, and Grimsby, whilst fresh; in the 
event, however, of these markets being unremunerative, and the 
wind and tides favourable, some of the boats would salt their 
catch, and run for the Yare. The fish now being fairly scented 
off the coast, no time is lost in fitting out the remainder of the 
fleet ; rigging is set up, sails bent, stores and nets stowed away, 
the last brush of paint given ; and away they go, a merry crew, 
to hunt the silvery host, and bring to land the daintiest morsel 
man ever tasted. The total number of boats engaged in the 
North Sea and Home fishings from Scotland, Lowestoft, and 
Yarmouth was 464, with a complement of 2,974 men and boys, 
divided as follows : 137 Scotch and 327 English; 42 Scotch and 
182 English sailing out of Lowestoft, and 95 Scotch and 145 
English out of Yarmouth. The total number of Herring landed at 
Lowestoft and Yarmouth for these fishings amounted to 20.922.6.4; 
Yarmouth contributing 17,407.0.4, and Lowestoft 3,515.6.0. 
The Herrings, throughout, were of good quality and size. Several 
good deliveries of the Black-nosed school were made, notably by 
the “ Kiama” and “Snowflake,” both vessels fishing off the outer 
Dowsing, in thirty-five fathoms of water. These fish are very 
fine in form, sound and healthy in flesh, and of rich flavour; of 
late years they have been somewhat scarce. 
Some very good catches were made by individual boats, the 
