The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-10 00:00:00

HERRING FISHING.

(Prom the Fifeshire Journal.)
The value of this national branch of industry, and the great
success with which it has been prosecuted in the Frith of
Forth for the last two years, gives much interest to every-
thing connected with it, and makes it a.matter of extreme
consequence that the fishing should be conducted in the
manner most beneficial, and at the same time most likely to
lead to its continuance. Any mode of fishing likely to injure
it in future years ought obviously to be exposed, and, if pos-
sible, put a stop to. When the herrings are in deep water,
they are invariably taken by means of floating the nets ; and
they are thus taken alive, and those not taken are left undis-
turbed. It is to be regretted, however, that when the her-
ring come into shallower water—say eight or nine fathoms—
which they do for the purpose of spawning, this excellent
practice is not attended to. The fishermen say they cannot,
under such circumstances, fish with floating nets, as the
depth of water will not permit it ; and they, therefore, anchor
their nets at the bottom as the only means of preventing the
herrings from making their escape. That this practice is
exceedingly injurious, and has had the effect of altogether
destroying the fishing on many stations, is the opinion, we
believe, el the oldest an most experienced fishermen ; in-
deed, the habits of the he ng confirms this opinion. They
visit the shores periodically for the purpose of depositing
their spawn, and it is obvious that during this time they
ought not to be disturbed. The fishermen say they cannot
take the herring when in the shallow water without anchor-
ing the nets; but the real truth is, it would be better, in
every point of view, they were altogether let alone. Many
reasons might be adduced in favour of this opinion ; and
not the least important is, that in such cases the fish are
foul, and really unfit for human food. The fishermen,
no doubt, obtain a little present gain, but they must all
be aware that it is often attended with the loss of their nets.
A most important reason why the practice should be dis-
continued, however, is, that where anchored nets are used,
numbers of fish are killed that are not taken, because anchor-
ed nets cannot be brought, with all their contents into the
boat on account. of the great weight of fish caught therein.
The nets being thus left at the bottom with myriads of dead
fish in them, the fishing ground is thus rendered foul, and
the fish leave immediately, as it is known no animal will stop
among its own dead. There is another reason we would
impress upon all interested in the herring fishing, why this
mode of fishing with anchored nets should be given up, and
ttreissyoallowedthis,nto
th
to
believe, that there is reason to believe, the habits of the
herring are analogous to. those of the salmon ; and that were
thae
depositthat‘vitiheen fullirspagwronwinn qthueieyt,wtihnerereitsnervnetrny
their native ground. But if the spawning ground is disturbed
coast, and the fish destroyed,fas
Dunbar as well as upon this iaast ing"n.
by the pernicious practice
there can be no doubt thefiwshasinugn ietfhostrimaonielearhbolly,reeatdhrse.nceatlssne,
herring will be driven from the
at
tct it has been often noticed
.that the herring- visit certain
allowed they
seek
be tickle in their tastes andunc'erattitlinalint
coasts for a time, and then quit tihine y havetheir
movementsbeen said
ibnugt
ground,u•e believe thed t
that
trte awl
efilaee
tthteoybael,
moisetstvaatiuthabatleimpodrtant
season, they would continue to frequent any
f attention
when spanning,
and
tooin-
creasingnce
fi
adopted;s
he
r
y
and
might t h u
bes a certain,secured, coacisuti.ethtesypawhand.
psrning,
the single circumstance of letting., them alone w
or about to spawn. It is hopeless to speak to the fishermen
on the subject, who get present gain by the present praecrtreeen ;
but they may depend upon it they are driving the fish from
t
the coast, and are sacrificing years of regular profit and ad-
vantage for a slight and temporary gain, not only to their
great subsequent loss and injury,*bu ttothe great loss of the
country in general. We know not if the
Board of Fisheries
t; preventand i
f this
they
h n practiceve n in
not, the
they
sooner have,
theyhev
apply
d too little but it ought to be
ohuagvehtthtoe epxoewrecrise to i
to parliament the better for power to do so. It is 'a
subject which has engage notice,
h cuer
on te Fife , a naval cer, wit a ,
forced on public attention. As soon as the herrings appear
sent h
to preserve coastorder, andoffi protect the fishing. should be

REPRESENTATION OF HELSTONE. —Mr. Basset (Whig
Radical) is in the field for Helstone, vacant by Lord Canta-
lupe having taken the ChilternHundreda.