288 Sea Herring 



Sea Herring 

 Clupea harengus Linnaeus 



Color: Back green-blue or steel blue; sides and belly silvery. 

 Distribution: Both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean. In 

 the western Atlantic it is most commonly found from 

 northern Labrador to Block Island. Small numbers are 

 sometimes taken farther south as far as Cape Hatteras. 

 Size: Maximum length about IVi feet. 

 General Information: The Sea Herring is found in open 

 coastal waters often in large schools comprising thousands 

 of individuals. Usually the members of a school are fish of 

 about the same length. Depending on locality, spawning 

 may occur from spring to autumn in depths of 12-180 

 feet. A single female may lay 20-40 thousand eggs. The 

 eggs sink to the bottom, and because they have a sticky 

 surface they become attached in clumps and layers to 

 particles of sand, stones, seaweeds, and other objects. Fish 

 10 inches long are about 4 years old, 15 inches long, about 

 9 years old. Specimens 20 years of age have been reported. 

 Most fish do not spawn until they are 4 years of age or 

 older. The food of the Sea Herring is mostly plankton. 

 This species is an important source of food for many of 

 the larger fishes. 



Economic Importance: The Sea Herring is one of impor- 

 tant species of food fishes. In the United States most of 

 the catch is landed in Maine and consists primarily of 

 small fish, 3-5 inches long, which are canned as "sardines." 

 The larger-sized fish are sold fresh or are pickled or 

 smoked. 



