240 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



of one shilling per cart-load to every one who would re- 

 move that quantity from the part of the shore under their 

 jurisdiction. The fish, being immediately from the deep 

 water, were in the highest condition, and barely dead. All 

 the salt in the town and neighbourhood was instantly put 

 in requisition, but it did not suffice for a thousandth part of 

 the mass, a great proportion of which, notwithstanding 

 some very successful attempts to carry off a few sloop 

 loads in bulk, was lost. In the bays or "locks," on the 

 west coast of Scotland, where the shoals of herrings are 

 very abundant, and apt to be driven ashore and stranded 

 by heavy gales from the north-west, these casualties occur 

 frequently. But, though these events are attended with a 

 great and obvious loss, they do not appear to have any sen- 

 sible effect upon the supply of herrings, whose numbers do 

 not seem capable of apparent diminution, either by the ca- 

 sualties of nature or the schemes of art. 



The habits of this most abundant, and perhaps, all things 

 considered, most valuable fish, are but imperfectly known ; 

 and they have been greatly misrepresented. 



Considered as an aliment, fresh herrings are perfectly in- 

 nocent if but moderately used; they contain, however, a 

 great quantity of oil, which disagrees with weak and deli- 

 cate stomachs ; and, according to Dr. Martyn, if they are 

 eaten in disproportionate quantities, they disorder the di- 

 gestive powers, frequently producing putrefaction in the di- 

 gestive cavities, of an alkaline nature, and consequently are 

 attended with pernicious effects. Pickled and dried salt 

 herrings are always unwholesome food, and, although they 

 form what is commonly denominated "a relish" yet their 

 flesh is hard, and difficult of digestion by the vital powers : 

 the former are, however, less injurious than the latter. 



The ancient dietetians viewed herrings of great import- 

 ance in a medicinal point of view. The vesicles, termed 

 animce, were taken internally as a diuretic. Salted herrings 

 were applied to the soles of the feet in fevers, in order to 



