Transcriber’s Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. With a few exceptions French words are not accented. In Chapter X, St Monance Uppertown and Overtown both used for the same location. The footnotes are located at the end of the book. Italics are represented thus _italic_. THE HARVEST OF THE SEA. [Illustration: VIEW OF WICK HARBOUR DURING THE HERRING SEASON.] THE HARVEST OF THE SEA _A CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATURAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE BRITISH FOOD FISHES_ BY JAMES G. BERTRAM [Illustration: Fish on seashore] POLONIUS.—Do you know me, my lord? HAMLET.—Excellent well; you are a fishmonger. _Shakespeare._ _WITH FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS._ LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1865 _Printed by_ R. CLARK, _Edinburgh_. PREFATORY NOTE. It is not my intention to inflict upon the reader a formal Preface. It would, however, be ungrateful were I not to take an opportunity of acknowledging the aid and information kindly afforded by various Members of the French Government; also by Professor Coste of the French Institute; M. Coumes of Strasbourg; the Authorities at Huningue; the Intendant of the Jardin d’Acclimatisation of Paris; Mr. Robert Buist; Mr. John Cleghorn; Jonathan Couch, Esq. of Polperro; Mr. H. Dempster; Thomas Ashworth, Esq.; Mr. Robert Cowie; Mr. R. P. Scott; Edward Cooke, Esq., R.A., to whose kindness I am indebted for the characteristic Sketches of “The Angler Fish” and “Jack in his Element.” So far as I am aware, this is the first work in which an attempt has been made to bring before the public in one view the present position and future prospects of the Food Fisheries of Great Britain. Great pains have been taken to obtain reliable information and correct statistics, but in so wide a field of labour considerable allowance must be made for errors. The excellent Fish Groups have been arranged and drawn by Mr. Stewart, the Natural History draughtsman of this city; while the Sketches of Fishing Scenes on Lochfyne and elsewhere are by Mr. J. R. Prentice. EDINBURGH, _18th October 1865_. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. FISH LIFE AND GROWTH.