30 
Link Fishing, which employed 20 years ago 22 boats out of 
Berwick alone, gave permanent fishing all the year to those who 
cared to prosecute it. The principal season, however, was from 
October to May, and during these months each man could get some 
f cwt. at a time. Now-a-days only January and February give a 
moderate yield to 8 boats from Berwick and 12 from Spittal, 4 men 
going with each boat. 
The following numbers for haddocks I again owe to Mr. 
Buglass : — 
It may he added that this year for nine months gives a return below 
the same period for last year. These numbers are among the most 
reliable which the Board of Trade obtains, but previous to 1895 
they are not to be depended upon, and show, as well as numbers can 
show, the diminution in the catch, and the decrease in the number 
of fishermen engaged in the haddock fishing ; at the same time the 
corresponding numbers given above show the increased attention 
devoted to crab and lobster fishing. 
Herring Fishing. — The local herring fishing has also decreased. 
Some of the boats, however, go to the early herring fishing. Three 
boats went to Ireland, one to Lowestoft, and two were fishing from 
Shields this season. 
Fishing Grounds. — Twenty-five to 30 years ago the best results 
were obtained in line fishing the further out the boat went. 
To-day the opposite is the case. The fishermen have to keep pretty 
close to the shore to obtain a catch. Some of the Spittal boats fish 
for plaice at Goswick in the month of March, but soon exhaust them 
and nothing is left. Halibut used to be very common 40 to 50 
years ago. They are now seldom seen, one fisherman said there 
were more destroyed then than one can catch now. 
The fishermen are naturally desirous to be allowed to fish for 
salmon in the sea ofl the Tweed, but the large mouth of the Tweed, 
as defined in the Tweed Act, debars them at present. An effort, l 
believe is being made to bring the Tweed under the Scotch River 
1895 
1890 
1897 
1898 
Cwts. 
7,471 
9,462 
4,050 
1,546 
Act. 
