178 AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMrNAL 

 MALACOPTERYGir. CLUPTDjE. 



THE HERRING. 



Clitpea Hareitgus. 



The common Herriug, which visits both coutineuts, runs into the 

 mouths of all the northern and north-eastern rivers of North Ameri- 

 ca, and is not only greatly sought for as an article of food, but really 

 affords very excellent sport to the angler. In spring, when he enters 

 the estuaries in full condition, and full of spawn, he leaps freely at 

 any gaudy-colored fly — whether of the peacock feather, or, what is yet 

 better, a four-winged fly of the scarlet ibis and silver pheasant, on a 

 scarlet chenil body, not unlike the fly used in Black Bass fishing, but 

 of a smaller size. The best way to use it is with a single bb shot 

 attached to the gut an inch or two above the fly, so as to troll with it, 

 as it were, slightly sunken below the surface. 1 have taken them in 

 this manner, off Fort Diamond at the Narrows, almost as fast as 1 

 could cast and draw in the fly. 



The appearance of this fish is so well known that a very particular 

 description is hardly necessary. The length of the head to the body 

 is about as one to four, the depth to the length of the body as one to 

 five. The upper part of the fisli is a fine blue, with green and other 

 reflections, when viewed in different lights ; the lower part of the side 

 and belly silvery white ; the checks and gill-covers silvery. Dorsal 

 and caudal fins dusky ; the fins on the lower parts of the body almost 



