THE SALT-WATER FISHERIES OF BOHUSLAN. 177 



In this as in many otlu'v rcsi)ccts the spawning herrings ai-eless sensitive, 

 Avhen impelled by a natural iniStinct — in this case tlic strong desire to 

 spawn. 



The fishermen in the Scotch liords, however, say tliat great Hoods 

 caused by continuous rain often produce failures of the fislieries. 



It is well known that herrings, especially young ones, when seeking 

 food come to the mouths of rivers, and this fact has been exidained in 

 ditierent ways. Parnell thinks that it is caused by the increased tem- 

 perature produced by the mingling of fresh and salt water, whilst Duha- 

 mel (In Monceau supposes that it can only be caused by Tiolent storms, 

 or that at any rate the herrings do not show the least preference for 

 fresh water. Boch [possibly intended for Boeck. — Translator''^ note]^ again, 

 believes that only violent persecutions by their enemies compel the her- 

 rings to seek the mouths of rivers. G. C. Cederstrom thinks that this is 

 caused by the circumstance "that the herrings' need of acid is easier 

 satisfied in fresh water than in salt water." Other authors thiidc the 

 herrings seek the mouths of divers because they find more food^^ or 

 better shelter from their enemies in the less salty, more tnrl)id, and 

 calmer water. 1 cannot deny that even si)awning herrings ai-e occa- 

 sionally found in the mouths of rivers, but as we know so little concern- 

 ing it it may well be sui)posed that it is caused by extreme conditions of 

 the weather. Valenciennes, however, remarks that the herrings do not 

 enter the mouths of rivers until they have spawned. As far as the 

 Bohuslan coast is concerned it must be said that the coast-herrings 

 peculiar to it are caught most frequently near the months of the Gola 

 and Glommen Eivers.^^ Near the mouth of the Gota River, especially, 

 it has been observed that the young herrings during summer when east 

 wind prevails like to come near the mouth of the river. It may be men- 

 tioned, as a peculiarity, that during the last great herring-fisheries the 

 herrings in the year 1752 accidentally went so far up the Gota River 

 that they were caught near Tingstad, six and a half (English) miles up 

 the river. In the year 1733 the herrings are said to have gone very far 

 u}) the ri^'er Oder, in Germany. 



25. It is quite probable that the quantity of 'air coniained in tite .sea- 

 water has some influence on the herrings; and several authors have 

 referred to it. So far we have no direct observations of the influence 

 which the greater or less quantity of air contained in the sea-water has 

 on the herrings ; but it is natural to supjjose that coast- waters which 

 have been well aerated by a strong sea-breeze attract a larger number 



"*< It is scarcely in accordance Tritli actual trutli, as Buclcland supposes, that the small 

 lierrings devour the refuse from the scAvers of great cities, which is so frequeutly found 

 near the mouths of English rivers. This refuse, doubtless, produces a large number 

 of lower microscopical organisms, Avhich either directly, or by serving as food for small 

 crustaceans, &c., benelit the herrings. 



■"It must not be foi-gotten that in these places the hen-ings can easily be sokl at a 

 comparatively high price and arc consequently more sought after. 

 12 F 



