Of the Herring Fishery. fil9 



Of the Seasons In u-hich Herrings are fcnind in different 

 Places, and of the Variations that occur in the Courses 

 they take. 



In the beginning of spring the inhabitants of the North 

 take a great quaniiTy of herrings in their own seas. In June 

 and July the fishery is carried on near the Shetland islands. 

 In September and October the fishermen take up their quar-^ 

 tcrs at the entrance of the German sea, and near the coasts 

 of the north of England : this is called the Yarmouth fish- 

 ery. When it is over, they follow the herrings into the 

 Channel in October, November, and December. It ap- 

 pears, therefore, that the herrings come from the North 

 by the Orkney islands, and that, after having touched upon 

 the coast of Norway, they cross the North sea to come to 

 the north of Scotland and England, whence they proceed 

 through the Streights of Dover into the Channel, where 

 the greatest part of them spawn ; after which ihey disap- 

 pear, and several are of opinion that they return to the North 

 along the coasts of Ireland. 



It having been observed that the herrings leave the North 

 towards April or May, the Dutch used "formerly to go in 

 /]uest of them near tlie Island of Helygeland and the coast 

 of Norway. But as that fishery often proved but middling, 

 they do not set out now until June, at which time theygQ 

 to meet them between Shetland and Newcastle. 



OF THE HERRING FISHERY IN THE CHANNEL. 



Of the Orders issued hy the French Government not to con- 

 iinue the Herring Fishery in the Channel after the Month 

 iif December. 



There are two things that contribute to the prosperity of 

 a branch of commerce. The one consists in meriting the 

 confidence of the purchasers, by taking particular care to 

 have the article well conditioned, and, above all, in observing 

 great fidelity in the expediting of it ; the other consists in 

 obtaining a preference by keeping the article at a moderate 

 price, it was with a view to these objects that the Dutch, 

 having perctivetl that the herrings caught between the rocks 

 of Ireland, Shetland, and Norway, were not of a good qua- 

 lity, have prohibited fishing in those places. They have 

 al=o made regulations concerning their salt works, so as to 

 have salt <;f a good quality ; and for tlic purpose of keep- 

 ing it at a low price, they have not only no salt tax, but 

 llity even give encouragement to those who carry on salt 



works. 



