Scotland has very decidedly the advantage over England in the salmon-fishery, which, if not of su perior value, may be allowed to rank next in im portance to the cod-fishery. This fish being rarely caught except in estuaries or rivers, may be consi dered in a great degree as private property ; and it may therefore be presumed that the fishery is con ducted to the greatest possible extent and advantage. From the extremity of •the Highlands, and from the Orkney and Shetland islands, these fish are sent up to the London rnarket, as before mentioned, in ice ; and when the season is at its height, and the catch more than can be taken off hand fresh, they are then salted, pickled, or dried, for winter consumption at home, and for the foreign markets. Perhaps the fishery of the Tweed is the first in point of the quan tity caught, which is sometimes quite astonishing, several hundreds being taken at a single draught of the net. It is here here the kitted salmon is prin cipally prepared for the London market, being first boiled and then pickled with vinegar.
The annual value of the Scotch and English fish eries, and the number of persons and craft employed on them, are but vaguely stated in the statistical reports of the several maritime counties of Great Britain ; and in some of them the subject, important as it certainly must be considered in our economical system, and as connected intimately with the subsist ence and employment of the labouring poor, is alto gether omitted. This defect is more particularly to be regretted at this moment, when inquiries are anxiously making, not only how to employ a super abundant population, but to ascertain to what extent the powers of the country are capable of supplying the means for its subsistence. Indeed, we conceive that a statistical survey of the British fisheries, as far as it could be made out, would afford a most va luable document in aid of a more complete investiga tion of that branch of political economy which re lates to the employment and the feeding of the people. The following brief account must, there fore, be considered as very imperfect. It is to be understood that the returns of the herring-fishery, as given in the preceding Table, are not taken into the account.
Sutherland.—The waters in which the salmon fishery is chiefly carried on in this county, are those of Naver, Helmsdale, and Brora, and the rent of these fisheries is about L1700 a year ; the produce L.6800. In one year (from December to March inclusive) were caught between Bighouse Bay, on the north coast, to Rou-stoir in Assynt, on the west coast, 30,000 lobsters, which /it threepence a piece, the price paid to the fishermen, amounted to L.375. They were carried in smacks to the Lon don market, where, at that season of the year, their value was estimated at L.7000. It is estimated that each of the 37 boats on the coast of Assynt might produce L.100 a-year. Three boats at Golspie are stated to make about L.130 a-year by haddocks on
ly, which are consumed by the country people. Of the quantity of cod and ling exported no account is given, but these valuable fish are taken in great abundance on every part of the coast. Whatever opinions may exist with regard to the policy of the measures which have recently been adopted with re: the tenantry of this county, there can be in considering the Marquis of Stafford as a great promoter of the fisheries, and a benefactor to all who are concerned in them.
Caiihness.—It is asserted, with every probability of truth, that there is no district in Europe better calculated for carrying on the fisheries, either in point of profit, variety, or extent, than Caithness. In the fresh waters of the county, and the seas by which it is surrounded, are enumerated 45 different kinds of esculent fish. Next to the herring, the cod-fishery, near Thurso, may be reckoned as the most important. Indeed, the whole coast of' Wick and Latheron, and every part of the Pentland Frith, abounds with this valuable species of fish, as well as all the other kinds usually distinguished by the name of white fish. The herring-fishery, as will be seen in the preceding Table, holds a high place among the established fishing stations ; and, in fact, the whole county feels the beneficial effects of an active prosecution of the fisheries, out of which has of late years risen a new town, near -Wick, named Pulteney Town ; and all the villages on the coast are in a pro., gressive state of enlargement and improvement from the same source.
Ross and Crosnarty.—In thereof the agricul ture of these counties, by Sir George Mackenzie, are some excellent observations respecting the her.. ring-fishery, the decline of whieh, previous to the late act, he ascribes to the circumstance of salt be ing delivered to the fishers free of duty ; which made the fishermen rely on the greater part of their ex pellees, and some part of their profits, being paid by the fraudulent practice of smuggling the salt for sale; and to such an extent was this practice carried, that it is broadly asserted, " there is not a farmer in the Highlands who uses any other than fishery salt for butter, cheese, and other provisions; there is no other salt used in private families." The cod-fishery at' Gairloch is the most produc tive of any on the coast of Scotland. The fishing is from January to April. The fish are small in size but rich ; averaging about. five pounds when cleaned for salting. They are mostly pickled, and also dried, and sent to Ireland, Liverpool, and London.. The aver age annual produce is about 20,000 cod, taken by 20 boats, each having about 400 hooks, which num ber, it is stated, might easily be doubled. For the success of this fishery, those who follow it are greatly indebted to the bounty and judicious assistance of Sir Hector Mackenzie.