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

HERRING FISHING.

(From 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, of the oldest and most experienced fishermen ; in-
deed, ie habits of the herring 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
it is this, that there is reason to believe, the habits of the
herring are analogous to those of the salmon; and that were
they allowed to deposit their spawn in quiet, there is every
reason to believe, that when full grown they will return to
their native ground. But it the spawning ground is disturbed
coast, there canand
tbfieenfios
fish
destroyed,oubt thea a herringw as
at Dunbar as well as upon this coast in by the pernicious practice of fishing with anchored nets,
fact it has been often noticed that thei
coasts for a time, and then quit • and theeyr
l al
her
efebs
tr di
former
tieivarebn.
lyy.
efatrhrosem.
otthe
be fickle in their tastes and uncertain their
iritanvge
mvb loosolvnt e
msetteeirdn
taist no;
but we believe the real fact to be, that they seek quiet spawn-
ing ground, and that were they allowed rest at that important
season, they would continue to frequennwtstanvyalcnoat they had
creasing fishery might he secured, if attention weree andapbsav
ni in-
creasing once adopted ; and thus a certain,
o
sbionngtletocisrpcua ciwn. rcumstance
iosfhloetptehliegssthteomspaeloaknetwatefine spawning,
or othrea
on the subject, who get present gain by the presen't
, not only to their
great loss of the
but they may depend upon it they arc driving the fish from
yra,rbyutgtuointhe
the coast, and are sacrificing years of regular profit and ad-
country in general. We know not it the Board of Fisheries
have the power to prevent this practice : if they have, they
gvraenattagseubfuserquuesnlitghlotsasnadndteinmfunr
ought to exercise it ; and if they have not, the sooner they
aparliament the better for power to do so. It is a
pply to
ffaged too little notice, but it ought to be
subject which has en Dag
forced on public attention. As soon as the herrings appear
ith a t
cu t
on the Fife coast, a naval officer, w
otect the fishfinger, should be
sent to preserve order, and r p

REPRZSENTATION OF HELSTONE. —Mr. Basset (Whig
ißuapde havingical takenthe)isin th
fieledcfohriltHernelsHtounnedr, vernt by Lord Cants-