HERRING. 185 



fish," says Dr. M'Cullocli,* " may be true ; but even a 

 much more limited migration is far from demonstrable. It 

 is at any rate perfectly certain that there is no sucli progress 

 along the east and west coasts from a central point." There 

 can be no doubt that the Herring inhabits the deep water all 

 round our coast, and only approaches the shores for the pur- 

 pose of depositing its spawn within the immediate influence 

 of the two principal agents in vivification increased tempera- 

 ture and oxygen ; and as soon as that essential operation is 

 effected, the shoals that haunt our coast disappear : but 

 individuals arc to be found and many are caught throughout 

 the year. So far are they from being migratory to us from 

 the North only, that Herrings visit the west coast of the 

 county of Cork in August, which is earlier than those which 

 come down the Irish Channel arrive, and long before they 

 make their appearance at other places much farther north. 

 " In former times, the fishery of the east coast did not com- 

 mence till that on the west had terminated. It is remarkable 

 also that the eastern fishery has become so abundant as quite 

 to have obscured the western." And Dr. M'Culloch, from 

 other examples, confirms a statement previously made, that 

 the fishery has commenced soonest on the southern part of 

 the shore ; and, what is also remarkable, that for some years 

 past it has become later every year. 



The Herring is in truth a most capricious fish, seldom 

 remaining long in one place ; and there is scarcely a fishing 

 station round the British Islands that has not experienced 

 in the visits of this fish the greatest variations both as to 

 time and quantity, without any accountable reason. 



" Ordinary philosophy is never satisfied," adds Dr. 

 M'Culloch, " unless it can find a solution for everything ; 



* See an excellent paper on the Herring in the 3'2nd number of the Journal 

 of the Royal Institution, for January 1824. 



