Of the Her ting -Fishery. 41 



iiTStance of the goodness of divine providence, to draw this 

 prodigious swarm of useful lish into our nets? This expla- 

 nation, however pious, affords little light to the natural 

 historian, who may be inclined to ask : Since divine provi- 

 dence is so 2;racious in this respect, why does it not send us 

 a troop of whales to furnish us Viith train oil at less labour 

 and cost than we can now procure it? The celebrated 

 burgomaster of Hamburg, Mr. Anderson, is of opinion, 

 that the wnigration of herrings is owma: to the overflow of 

 young ones, who, not finding sufiicient room in their old 

 habitations, sally out in (|uest of new settlements, as so 

 many colonies. This opinion docs not at all account for 

 the phaenomenon. How can periodical emigrations, al- 

 ways taking place at stated seasons, proceed from so uncer- 

 tain a cause as the mere accident of an overflowing popu- 

 lation? 



How will this hypothesis account for the constant ad- 

 herence to the same track, tj.e separation and reunion of 

 the main body, at stated places and at stated times? 

 Whereas mere want of room would drive them indiscrimi- 

 nately towards any or all places. 2dly, So far from being 

 the effect of excessive multiplication, it seems to be the 

 motive of it. They are not the only species which under- 

 goes long voyages for the sake of propagation. Many birds 

 of passage, such as the woodcock, wild-goose. Sic. do the 

 same. In fact, the herrings multiply more on the route 

 than they do before it; we know that many kinds of fish 

 leave the sea, and seek the rivers to deposit their spawn : so 

 that one very probable cause of the emiirration is, the in- 

 stinct of emigration; the second, the plenty of food which 

 the quickening influence of spring prepares, by the swarms 

 of insects and fUcs. The king or leader of herrings is 

 anuch larger than the common, being two feet long; lishers 

 think it criminal to destroy it; the whole column follows 

 and observes his motions. In a streight they contract, in 

 an open sea they expand their order of march with admi- 

 rable dexterity, without slackening their pace. They live 

 on small fishes and young crabs, as appears from their 

 jaws being furnished with teetli. Lewenhoeck found in the 

 stomach of a herring the indigested remains of a little fish. 



To form some conception of the iimiunerable multitude 

 of herrings that fill the seas, extendmg jnore than the 

 bnadth of England and Ireland together, and in order to 

 give a clear insight into this |>rolii;)ble branch of trade, we 

 shall first treat of the Ships and implements used in the fish-* 

 fry: Sdly, of the time and manner of taking tiiem: 3dly, 

 ot the rc|julations and right of carrying on the fishery, the 



gutting. 



