THE NATURAL HISTORY OF GOOLE MOOR. 9 
of resort the less, as the interesting, and in many cases scarce, 
plants are being destroyed. The gulls, curlews and other birds 
will be driven away, and the rare insects no longer be found, 
inasmuch as their food plants will be destroyed. The benefit of 
the change to the agriculturist will of course be great ; the addition 
of several square miles to the food-producing area of the country 
is an important event. The wants of the naturalist must not 
stand before the needs of the community. It is therefore 
necessary that proper records of the animals and plants should be 
kept, and that the young may be taught not only to read about 
them, but to study and endeavour to find out the laws of Nature 
affecting them. Nature’s secrets must be sought after, and every 
advance regarded as also a step from Nature to Nature’s God. 
Ponp HERRINGs.—Adjacent to the estuary of the Humber 
there exists a large pond some three acres in extent, which has 
been dug out in order to afford clay for the neighbouring brick- 
yard. Communication with the Humber is effected by means 
of a clough, which is so contrived that water may come in 
occasionally, but not go out. One dull day in November a 
friend and myself had a day’s fishing in the pond. We caught 
several nice flat fish, with which apparently the pond swarmed. 
When tiring of this, we tried fishing with small pieces of cockle, 
and got some bites which we could hardly understand. Changing 
our tackle for a light gut bottom and small hooks, great was our 
astonishment at catching herrings. They bit so boldly that at 
first we struck immediately on perceiving a bite; but afterwards 
growing wiser by many and sundry misses, we gave them more 
time, and consequently were more successful. Once hooked, they 
were the “‘gamest” fish it has been my lot to catch. They are of 
all sizes, the largest not exceeding nine inches in length, On 
questioning the proprietors, we were informed that these fish 
(which the people in the vicinity termed “pilchards”) got in 
by chance some ten years ago, and that they breed regularly 
in the pond. A noticeable fact in connection with them was 
that they refused to take other than a small bait. These fish 
are not pilchards as is assumed, the pilchard being rarely found 
so far north, and the great distinguishing mark (the dorsal fin) 
is not in the centre of gravity —H. M. Foster. 
