148 MR. C. STACY-WATSON ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
based upon the earnings of the boat. There is the manufacture of 
the nets and ropes, which alone gives employment to thousands 
of men, women, and children in the large steam factories of distant 
towns, as well as the humbler rope-walks and beating chambers 
at home, entailing an outlay of large capital. 
In addition to this there are a multitude of men and women, bojs 
and girls, engaged locally in various branches connected with the 
fishing, to whom it is a veritable harvest when the provident lay 
up for the proverbial “rainy day.” For instance, the amount paid 
out for labour in transferring the catches from the boats to the 
buyers’ premises this year amounted to over £8000, apart from 
incidentals too numerous and complex to apportion and describe. 
There is also the value of materials, packages, and labour used in 
curing, which involved an outlay of £50,000 to £60,000 on the 
year’s catch, to which must be added the value of the fishing 
premises and utensils, estimated at £76,000. 
Thus it will be seen that this industry is of great importance 
to the inhabitants of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and should be 
carefully fostered by their respective Corporations. 
The Spring catch, which began from Yarmouth in March, and 
Lowestoft in April, shows an increase upon 1894 of 131 lasts, 
although fewer boats were employed, only 16 against 19 last year; 
4 of these sailing from Yarmouth and 12 from Lowestoft. The 
Yarmouth men captured 54 lasts, whilst the Lowestoft men 
secured 818, an average of 13| lasts for Yarmouth, and 68 lasts per 
boat for Lowestoft. The greatest catches were made in April and 
May ; Yarmouth 50 lasts, Lowestoft 793 lasts. Why there should 
be this difference in the quantities caught by the Yarmouth and 
Lowestoft men I cannot at present understand, inasmuch as they 
fish over the same grounds. 
The Midsummer fishing was less productive this year than last, 
but the quality was about the same, and, the demand being good, 
prices were well sustained. From Yarmouth there sailed 70 local 
and 18 Scotch, and from Lowestoft 190 local and 22 Scotch boats, 
in search of these fat, plump, delicate morsels. There were landed 
at Yarmouth 1063 lasts; and at Lowestoft 1113 lasts; a total of 
2176, showing a deficiency of 601 lasts ; Lowestoft being responsible 
for 580 lasts, Yarmouth 21 lasts. 
The destination of these fish was chiefly confined to home 
