152 SALMONIDES. 



miles ; — and it is also considered that millions 

 and millions are annually taken by the fishermen ; 

 — and in connexion with these facts, it is admit- 

 ted that thousands are swallowed at a mouthful by 

 whales, — several species of which follow the 

 herring in all its migrations, to destroy it ; — the 

 havoc made on their phalanxes by other fishes 

 and marine monsters, — and yet their numbers 

 appearing undiminished ; — with all these facts, 

 can any man in his senses, doubt for a moment, 

 the relations of naturalists. 



In direct opposition to the foregoing remarks, 

 the migratory character of the herring is ques- 

 tioned by some very late writers, who suppose it 

 remains through the winter at no great distance 

 from the shore, or plunges into the deepest parts 

 of the ocean, or burrows in the mud, to rise at the 

 spawning season. All this appears both unphilo- 

 sophic and irrational. 



In the first place, herring are rarely caught at 

 sea, unless a shoal, pursued by a whale, drives 

 them out of their course. Moreover, it has been 

 asserted, that wherever found, they invariably 

 keep at a certain distance from the sun. 



Secondly, they have not the organization for 

 living in mud or filth of any kind. Thirdly, they 

 are physically prevented from sinking into very 

 deep water, by the structure and development of 



