150 MR. C. STACY-WATSON ON THE HERRING FISHERY. 
Harbour was witnessed. On the previous day, the weather being 
sea, but, during the night, one of those sudden storms of wind and 
blinding rain, for which the North Sea has such an unenviable 
the shore ; on they came, wildly careering towards the harbour, 
which they entered in such quick succession as to endanger their 
new gained safety ; not all, however, returned, for one, the “ Star 
of Bethlehem,” a Banffshire boat, making for the coast, struck the 
Cross-sands, the furious waters of which, dashing with relentless 
fury over the frail craft, soon overwhelmed her and she went to 
pieces ; the brave fellows on board, with great presence of mind, in 
the few minutes left to them, constructed a fragile raft composed 
of small spars, oars and hatches, to which they lashed the bladder 
net-buoys ; trusting themselves to this, were tossed about in the sea 
for several hours with their heads only just above water. The 
accident had been witnessed from the lightships, whose signal-guns 
drew the attention of tug and lifeboat-men, who promptly 
responded to the call, and sailed in the direction of the Sands 
in search of survivors, whom they eventually discovered and 
rescued almost dead with long immersion and light for life. 
The loss of nets and gear amongst these boats was heavy ; the 
nets of some, getting too full of Herrings, sunk ; others were 
destroyed by bad weather; early in November they began to return 
homeward, all having disappeared by the 20th of that month. 
1 heir catch was 1327 lasts in excess of the previous year. 
Hie 1-17 local Yarmouth boats, of which four are steamers, were 
not so successful, and their deliveries show a considerable decrease 
upon the previous year, viz., 22G3 lasts, from which deduct the 
increase Scotch boats thus : 
Not deficiency remaining of 936 
Lowestoft comes well to the front with an increase of 2379 lasts, 
thus : 
fine and apparently propitious, nearly the whole Scotch fleet put to 
reputation, sprang up ; nets were hauled, and the boats headed for 
Yarmouth, decrease 
Scotch, increase . 
Yarmouth. 
Local and Scotch Boats 
Lowkstokt. 
Scotch Boats 
1894 . . 17.407 
1895 . . 16,471 
Net deficiency 936 Increase 2,379 
