TION. 



Class IV. HERRING. 337 



alter the appearance of the very ocean. It is di- 

 vided into diftinct columns of five or fix miles in 

 length, and three or four in breadth, and they 

 drive the water before them with a kind of rip- 

 pling : fometimes they fink for the fpace of ten 

 or fifteen minutes, then rife again to the furface, 

 and in bright weather reflect a variety of fplendid 

 colors, like a field of the mod precious gems, in 

 which, or rather in a much more valuable 'light, 

 mould this ftupendous gift of Providence be con- 

 fidered by the inhabitants of the Britijh ifles. 



The firft check this army meets in its march Separa= 

 fouthward, is from the Shetland ifles, which divide it 

 into two parts ; one wing takes to the eaft, the 

 other to the weftern fhores of Great Britain, and 

 fill every bay and creek with their numbers - ? 

 others pafs on towards Yarmouth, the great and an- 

 tient mart of herrings ; they then pafs through the 

 Britijh channel, and after that in a manner difap- 

 pear. Thofe which take to the weft, after offering 

 themfelves to the Hebrides, where the great ftati- 

 onary fifhery is, proceed towards the north of 

 Ireland, where they meet with a fecond inter- 

 ruption, and are obliged to make a fecond divifi- 

 on; the one takes to the weftern fide, and is fcarce 

 perceived, being foon loft in the immenfuy of the 

 Atlantic", but the other, which paffes into the 

 Irijh fea, rejoices and feeds the inhabitants of nioft 

 of the coafts that border on it. 



Thefe brigades, as we may call them, which are 

 Vol. HI. Z thus 



