The scene is one of animation and bustle, as basket after basket herring is slung from the hold of the drifter on to the pier, there to be seized by stalwart Ashermen, and emptied into the trough. A number of girls are allotted for duty trough, as gutters, but the not complete, until a number of "packers" take up their. post the midst of the surrounding bar-els. The spectator is filled with admiration for the skill with which the gutters perform their work. Deftly the herring is seized in the left hand, and, qui lightning, there is a turn of the right wrist, the flash of a fearsome-looking knife, and the disentrailed fish is thrown to one side. Such skill can only be acquired by long and as-sinuous practice, and as payment by results, over and above a minimarh wage guarantee, is the rule, highly important that each member of the gutting "crew" should attain! toa high standard of skill, otherwise she becomes a drag on her neighbours. Now begins the work the "packers" who generally, work in pairs. One acts as fish carrier, while the other arranges tier fatter tier in the barrel, to the acjcompaniment of a liberal besprinkling of salt.
A fine moral tone pervades the conduct of those humble fisher girls. In their appearance you observe the racial characteristics of a blood-blend of the Viking and the Celt. They stand aloof from strangers, and they are stern with such as-take them lightly, but speak to them in native language, and evince Ham intelligent interest fu thet work, and you are treated -with innate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.