THE HERRING FISHERY. 
55 
being the principal ports used during August and September, 
when it is the custom to land the catches daily in a fresh state, 
though at times catches are salted at sea and disposed of 
accordingly at any of the respective ports, as the requirements 
of the trade may demand. 
This fishing is principally carried on for supplying our own 
home markets, and, either in a fresh or salted condition, the 
herrings are sent daily to the centres of industry, as well as 
to many small towns on every line of railway in England and 
Wales. 
Many of the Yarmouth boats during these two months — August 
and September — run from the fishing ground to Yarmouth with 
their catches, which they salt with the ordinary fishing salt, 
to supply the trade with bloater stuff, and also with sea-salted 
herrings, for those curers who export to the Mediterranean ports 
smoked herrings, between a bloater and a red herring, which are 
somewhat of a speciality in the Yarmouth herring trade. 
The home or autumn fishing voyage on the east coast is carried 
on during October, November, and part of December, and 
constitutes the principal part of the Herring Fishery on this coast ; 
for by this time the whole of the fleet belonging to Great 
Yarmouth and Lowestoft have returned from the various fishing 
grounds between the Humber and Tyne, and more or less 
concentrate their efforts off Yarmouth and Lowestoft. 
It is noteworthy, as showing the spirit of enterprise which 
is now called forth in connection with this industry, that 
as soon as the season begins about 300 boats come from Wick, 
Banff, Leith, St. Monance, Montrose, Aberdeen, Pittenween, 
Lossiemouth, Kirkaldy, and various other parts of the east coast 
of Scotland, and prosecute for at least two months — October and 
November — this important fishery, in conjunction with their 
English brethren. To cope with such a large fleet of boats, 
especially when large shoals of fish visit the coast, and boats 
are bringing enormous catches, varying sometimes from twenty 
lasts per boat down to five lasts, special waterside market 
accommodation is necessary. It often happens during the very 
busy time of the year that no less than 400 or 600 boats are 
delivering their catches during the day, and it will be easily 
understood that a sea-frontage of sufficient dimensions to grapple 
with this trade is of the first importance. 
