DRIFT-NET FISHING. 123 



Although shoals of maties or fat herrings appear on 

 many parts of the coast, either by themselves or in 

 company with full fish, we have abundant evidence 

 that a large proportion of the herrings which approach 

 the shore from deep water during the fishing seasons 

 are getting into spawning condition ; and that the 

 spawning takes place before they return to the open 

 sea. They are then said to be " shotten," and are con- 

 sidered of comparatively little value for the table ; in 

 some places they are called " razor fish " from their 

 thin, sharp appearance. After spawning they gradually 

 disperse, and apparently return to deep water, although 

 examples may not unfrequently be met with inshore 

 long after the usual herring season is past; in fact, in 

 some localities herrings of one kind or another may be 

 found at all times of the year. The spawn is known 

 to be deposited on the ground, and sometimes in com- 

 paratively shallow water ; but it does not necessarily 

 follow that the process should always take place near 

 the shore. There is no doubt, however, about that 

 being frequently the case ; as, on the coast of Scotland 

 particularly, herrings are successfully fished for with 

 hook and line whilst they are on the ground at the 

 spawning time. The very young herrings are abundant 

 along many parts of the coasts where spawning and 

 spawned fish were previously found in large numbers ; 

 and older fish in various stages of growth are met with 

 on some part or other of the coast throughout the year. 

 It appears unnecessary, therefore, to resort to any 

 theory of migration to explain the presence of herrings 

 at any particular time on the coasts of the British 

 Islands. Everything is in favour of their being a 

 resident species, and there is some evidence to show 

 that the fishes of a district do not range far away. 



