218 Dr. Mac Cullcch on the Herring. 



dant, as quite to have obscured the western ; while the quality of 

 the fish has also improved, although they continue to be still far 

 inferior. In 1820, this eastern fishery was so abundant as to have 

 overstocked the whole market, foreign and domestic ; procuring 

 considerable loss to the merchants, and materially checking its fu- 

 ture progress. It is further to be remarked in this case, that so far 

 from there being any indications of a progress from the north, the 

 fishery has commenced soonest on the southern parts of this shore ; 

 and, what is also remarkable, that for some years since that, it 

 has become later every year. Of its actual state I cannot speak 

 precisely, because my observations terminated with 1821. 



I might extend the same kind of remarks to the English fish- 

 eries, but it is unnecessary. That of Yarmouth, and that of the 

 Isle of Man, are among the most steady. A few years ago, they 

 were taken in such abundance for the London market on the 

 coasts of Kent and Sussex, that they could not be consumed, and 

 were employed as manure; and other changes equally unintelligi- 

 ble have occurred on the eastern and southern coasts of England, 

 as well as the north shore of Cornwall. 



That this capricious conduct is not peculiar to the herring, is 

 proved by the recent state of the Pilchard fishery of Cornwall, and 

 by the changes which the Sardinian fishery of Britany has under- 

 gone. The almost entire desertion of this fish from the former 

 country, where it had been annual and abundant to a proverb, 

 forming a steady and valuable object of commerce, is as yet unac- 

 counted for. Lately, it has shewn symptoms of again returning. 



It seems at any rate perfectly ascertained with respect to the 

 herring, that it breeds on our own shores ; and this is the im- 

 portant point which ihe preceding remarks serve to ascertain, 

 though they yet leave the changes of place unaccounted for. It 

 seems to reside permanently in the deep surrounding seas, and ap- 

 parently round the whole island, though more abundantly to the 

 northward. This is clearly proved by the Dutch fishery, which 

 was carried on at all times in the deep sea, and constituted that 

 very fishery which was supposed to have produced to Holland such 

 enormous wealth, and which excited our jealousy, and stimulated 



