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CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART
CONTENTS
THE HERRING-FISHERY AND FISHERMEN.
IN ALL SHADES.
SOME RUSTIC NAMES OF FLOWERS.
SPIRITED AWAY.
ON PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS IN THE NEW-BORN.
PARLIAMENTARY TITBITS.
BREAD FROM THE BARK OF THE FIR-TREE.
THE STANHOPE GOLD MEDAL.
AT THE MILL.
No. 124.—Vol. III.
Price 1½d.
SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886.
THE HERRING-FISHERY ANDFISHERMEN.
IN TWO PARTS.—PART I.
The herring-fishery has been prosecuted more orless by the inhabitants of this country for severalhundred years, and the industry has been longrecognised not only as an important factor inthe food-supply of the country, but as one ofthe most valuable export trades in Scotland. Thecatching of herrings received a good deal of attentionfrom the fishing population last century;but as the prosecution of the fishing was markedby great irregularities, the fishermen became disheartenedat the repeated failures in the catch,and being unacquainted with any proper modeof curing and salting herrings that would haveenabled them to take advantage of prolific seasons,the industry began to languish and decay. Thegovernment, however, incited by the success ofenterprising Dutchmen engaged in the fishery,saw the prospects of developing, under enlightenedauspices and unmeasured energy, a vastsphere of operations; and with the view ofencouraging both fishermen and fishcurers toengage in the industry, an Act of Parliamentwas passed in 1750, and another in 1753, offeringsubstantial bounties to all boats employed in theherring-fishery; which was followed up in 1809by payment of a bounty of two shillings forevery barrel of herrings cured, accompanied byan allowance of two and eightpence per barrelexported. From 1815 to 1826 the export ratewas deleted; but the bounty per barrel curedwas in the last-mentioned year raised to fourshillings; while in the four succeeding years, ayearly reduction of one shilling took place; andin 1830, when the trade was fairly established,the government bounties were abolished.
The fostering care bestowed upon the herring-tradewas fruitful of great results; and our countrymen,who had looked upon the Dutch fishery,with all its technicalities, as quite unapproachable,were gratified to find that the Scot