Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC T^IAGAZIKE!. 399
Even imder tlieir present mode of fishing, consideraljle good would re-
sult from a temporary supply being awarded them of long lines, hooks,
etc. Many might benefit their families by occasional supplies of fish,
who cannot avail themselves of the same in the meantime merely for
want of such tackle as is used in the place. But i permanent advan-
tage from this soiu'ce of industry it is necessary to • ;>piy them, not only
with fisliing materials, on approved principles, but also with skilfid men
to instruct them in the art, to superintend the work, and to arouse them
to emulation and industry by their example. Among the various re-
quisites to establish fisheries on this scale are harbours, quays, and store
houses. These should be as nimierous as possible, at the same time taking
care that they be erected at stations judiciously chosen. Without them
the occupation of the fisherman can never be earned on with regularity,
or equable success. The next requisites are boats, or wood and ii'on to make
them. The boats suited for the Avhite fishing should be from 16 to 18
feet of keel, or even larger, while the kind for the herring fishing should
be larger still, resembling those used at Fraserburgh, Peterhead, or Banff.
As to the tackle for cod and ling fishing, every boat would require cordage,
commonly called long-lines, to rig out 600 hooks, mth buoy-strings in
proportion, and every herring boat should be supplied -with five or six
barrels of herring nets. Each boat would require an experienced fisher-
man, at least for a time, as instructor, and perhaps none are better suited
for this purpose than fishermen from Peterhead, and other places on the
east coast of Scotland. Some are of opinion that were fisheries thus es-
tablished it would be necessary to have a general inspector over those of
every island, such as Skye, Lews, Uist, etc., for the purpose of superin-
tending the work generally, as well as for seeing that order and industiy
prevailed at every station.
Before such extensive arrangements as have been thus pointed out
can possibly be brought about, several years must necessarily elajise,
during wliich the people will be as liable as ever to be overtaken by the
sad consequences of inclement seasons, should it be the wUl of Providence
that such will come to pass. It is therefore earnestly to be hoped that,
from whatever quarter reUef is to be obtained, for the permanent benefit
of the Highlanders, by the adoption of such arrangements as are both
judicious and necessary for the purpose, the same wdl be speedily applied.
Though the late cry for bread has been heard, and humanely responded to
by a liberal and benevolent nation, and though the Divine Bestower of
" every good and perfect gift" has been graciously pleased to crown the
year with abundance, and to shed abroad His blessings with bountiful
hand throughout the regions of distress, yet it is not enough to rest satis^
fied imder these circumstances, or to view the future condition of the late
sufi"erers with luke-warm indifi"erence. The fact that they have been
mercifully rescued from the late calamity, and that they are still, from
local peculiarities, more liable than the rest of the nation to similar caL
amities in future, renders their case worthy of deliberate consideration by
all such as have the power to accomplish means of improvement.
While the population of the districts lately visited Avith distress is so
Very large, it may happen that even the means of relief already mentioned