Herrings ho! The fishing families rejoiced on the morning of October’s last day at the arrival of several boats laden with herrings caught in the home waters. The Thomas of which Betts was master, and the Susannah, of which Larkins was master, caught a last each, and some other boats caught several thousands each. The prices ranged from £30 to £28 per last, and 9s 6d. per hundred.
Another Rich Haul rewarded the fishermen, four days later, when from twenty to thirty of their boats landed herring ranging from two to twenty thousand. John Hide’s boat had two lasts (20,000); The Jolly Fisherman and the May-flower, 1½ lasts each; the Thomas John, the Punch and the Phantom, twelve or thirteen thousand each; and others a less number. They were sold at £15 to £19 per last. On returning to the fishing ground, the boats were soon driven back by a gale.
The Success Checked. After the last named date (Nov. 4th) the wind and weather were such that for a fortnight or more the herring boats were unable to put to sea, although it was known that there was an abundance of fish in the Channel. On the 23rd, however, one boat landed 1½ lasts; and on the 28th, the catches were large and in numerous parcels. The Industry had 24 thousand; the Elizabeth, 20 thousand, the Bee, 17,000; the Four Brothers, 14,000; the Providence, 10,000; and two or three other boats from ten to fifteen thousand. There were also many smaller quantities. The prices ranged from £21 to £23 per last.
On the East Coast the larger luggers from Hastings were very unfortunate. The accounts from Lowestoff(sic) and Yarmouth were that few of them had earned their expenses. At the latter place much depression prevailed in consequence of the great losses caused by the late gale. A fleet of 200 boats were at sea with their nets shot, when the gale came on, and the said nets were cut adrift, or entangled, or lost. Several of the boats were driven on to the Dutch coast and there wrecked.
In the same gale, two vessels foundered off Portsmouth in one of which was Capt. Fisher, of Hastings. He sailed the Eclipse, laden with iron from London to Portsmouth, and on the evening of the 25th of November the vessel was at anchor, but was found to have sunk in the morning in four fathoms of water. It was surmised that the vessel dragged her anchor and drifted on to a shoal. The master and crew were all drowned. Two bodies were washed ashore, one of which was identified as the mate’s.
Another Disaster. – Following the beautiful calm of the 28th of November (frequently a precursor of storm), a gale came on and the boats which were at sea returned to the shore. The Jane and Mary, a boat belonging to Messrs. Tassell & Cobby, landed, with a flowing tide, just before daylight, and just as she was about to be wound up in the usual manner, the -
