FISHES, 235 



are necessarily restricted compels us to limit our notice of this 

 well-known fish to one single point in its economy — its appear- 

 ance on our coasts. 



By Pennant, the approach of the Herring (Cliipea harengus) 

 lias heen described as tliat of a mighty army, which, coming 

 from the arctic circle, divides at the Shetland Isles into two 

 great bodies, one of which fills the creeks and bays of the east 

 coast of Britain, while the other, passing along the west, sepa- 

 rates towards the north of Ireland into two divisions — "one of 

 which takes to the western side, and is scarcely perceived, 

 being soon lost in the immensity of the x\tlantic ; hut the other, 

 which passes into the Irish Sea, rejoices and feeds the inhabit- 

 ants of the coasts that border on it." 



This account, though circumstantial, is altogether incorrect. 

 The Herrino; does not abound in the arctic seas : and the divi- 

 sion of the mighty army into brigades which pursue their 

 way along the eastern and western shores, is purely imaginary. 

 The Herring does perform a migration, but of a limited range. 

 It comes to the shores for the purpose of spawning ; the in- 

 creased temperature and greater supply of oxygen being neces- 

 sary for the development of the young. The ova being de- 

 posited, the Herring forsakes the shore for the deeper water, 

 where it habitually dwells. It is not a visitant from a distant 

 region, but a constant dweller in our own seas. It comes to 

 the coast for a specific purpose, and that purpose being fulfilled, 

 it again retreats to the deep water. 



The Pilchard was, like the Herring, supposed to migrate 

 from remote seas. Modern research has stripped the history 

 of both fishes of much that was marvellous ; but the mere 

 emotion of wonder which is thus destroyed, is, on a little 

 reflection, succeeded by one of a deeper, more reverential, and 

 more abiding character. Under the impulse of the law by 

 which certain species of fishes are, at successive seasons, im- 

 pelled to approach the shores, the most effectual means are 

 provided for the continuance of each of the several kinds ; and 

 while the perpetuation of the species is thus secured, man is 

 f\u*nished with a varied and successive supply of food, abundant, 

 nutritious, and brought from the depths of the ocean within 

 the sphere of his activity and skill. This constantly-recur- 

 »ring, yet ever-varying phenomenon has in its nature nothing 

 of chance. It is a beneficent law, and reveals a beneficent 

 Author. 



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