318 Major Morrrson''s Observations on the 



direction of east and west in this part of the British Channel, 

 I have been particular in noticing this latter circumstance, as 

 there is a singularity attached to the capture of both the her- 

 ring and the mackerel, which is, that those fish wliich are en- 

 cumbered with roes, while caught in great numbers on the east 

 side of the nets, are not met with in a greater proportion than 

 one in about one hundred without roes on the west side ; a fact 

 which (abstractedly from other sources of information on this 

 subject), affords evidence, that not only the herring, but also 

 the mackerel, reach this part of the Channel, for the purpose of 

 depositing their roes, from the eastward. 



When the nets are arranged for the mackerel, the upper 

 parts are always supported on the surface by small kegs and 

 corks ; but when placed for the taking of herrings, they are not 

 always left near the surface, but are sunk at various depths 

 when there is little or no wind, from within a yard of the bottom 

 upwards, according to the judgment of the fishermen, but they 

 generally prefer placing them near the surface when there is a 

 brisk breeze. 



The herrings generally appear oiF Hastings about the begin- 

 ning of November. Their approach, however to this lati- 

 tude is earlier in some seasons ; if, for instance, the wind 

 sets in from the north-west in the beginning or middle of 

 October, which naturally occasioning smooth water along the 

 eastern coast of England, greatly facilitates the advances of 

 the herrings southward; and should the wind continue in 

 the same point for some time after the close columns of 

 these fish reach the Channel, this insures a profitable season to 

 the fishermen of this place. But should a south or south-east 

 wind come on and prevail for some time, while the herrings are 

 on their passage to the Channel, the swell often produced from 

 these points disturbing the fish, operates powerfully towards 

 changing their direction in seeking shelter on the coasts of Hol- 

 land and France, and avoiding the southern coast of England. 

 This was the case last season, which proved very unsuccessful 

 to those engaged in the fishery. During the presence of the 

 herrings and mackerel in this latitude, their eggs may, during 

 a calm, be seen floating on the surface of the water like saw- 

 dust, amidst an appearance like the wake or track of a vessel, 

 from which the course of the fish may be traced. 



