216 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Herring. 



These are the losses to which I alluded at the commencement 

 of this paper, which were caused by false views of the proceedings 

 of the herrings. I do not know how far these establishments ori- 

 ginated in the Arctic Theory, because some of them are prior, at 

 least to the publication of Pennant's opinions : but it is very cer- 

 tain that many of the more recent ones proceeded on this founda- 

 tion, believing that the migration of the herring was steady and 

 certain. Nothing else could have led to the sinking of so much 

 capital ; the nearly total loss of which has been the result of this 

 false information, or theory, and inconsiderate expenditure. 



To pursue this part of the subject; at a later period, they seem 

 to have preferred the lochs further to the south. Thus Loch 

 Hourn and Loch Nevish became the great fishing stations, as did 

 the Sound of Sky. But, warned by their preceding failures, no 

 buildings were erected in these, and the fishery was managed by 

 means of boats and busses in the present method. Thus also 

 they made Loch Fyne one of their principal resorts, moving in a 

 great measure towards the Clyde, or further south ; though it also 

 happened that they were abundant in these lochs, and also in the 

 neighbourhood of Sky at the same period. Thus Portree, Scalpa, 

 Loch Hourn, Loch Ransa, and Loch Fyne, have, within a few 

 years, been the great resorts ; yet very irregularly : and in this 

 manner has Campbell town, which depends chiefly on the herring 

 fishery, fluctuated between wealth and bankruptcy. For a single 

 season, not many years ago, Loch Scavig in Sky was crowded with 

 them in a manner perfectly incredible. Yet, before and since that 

 period, they have been unknown there ; marking in a very pointed 

 manner, the extreme irregularity and caprice of their movements. 

 All these seem mere changes of haunt, unconnected with any par- 

 ticular migration, and for which no causes can at present be 

 assigned. 



Vulgar philosophy is never satisfied unless it can find a solution 

 for every thing ; and is satisfied, for this reason, with imaginary 

 ones. Thus, in the Long island, it was asserted that the fish had 

 been driven away by the manufactory of kelp ; some imaginary 

 coincidence having been found between their disappearance and 



