CLUPEA. 151 



multiply in its characteristic manner, together with 

 its offspring, for twenty years, their united bodies 

 would ten times exceed the bulk of our globe ! ' 



Although this may be considered a wild calcu- 

 lation, resting, however, on the authority of a for- 

 eign calculator, there is probably a nearer approx- 

 imation to truth, than we are ready, at first view, 

 to admit. 



Herring are certainly anadromous, though their 

 migrations may have been over-rated. Their 

 taking, it is said, the regular circuit of the sea, gives 

 additional interest to their history. One immense 

 army leaves the polar regions, in the spring, equal- 

 ling in extent the whole surface of Great Britain. 



As they advance, squadrons begin to separate 

 from the main body ; these average from four to 

 six miles in breadth, and in length, cannot be 

 measured by the eye. An astonishing representa- 

 tion arrives at the Shetland Islands, in June. By 

 September, England, Ireland and Scotland, are 

 surrounded by them. From these parts, the forces 

 move southwest, cross the atlantic, and make 

 their appearance on the coast of Georgia, about 

 the last of January ; detachments then begin to 

 move eastward, till, ultimately, the whole North 

 American seaboard is lined with them. 



When the length of sea-coast bordering the Unit- 

 ed States is recollected, about three thousand 



