156 SALMONIDES. 



The laws both in England and Scotland, as they 

 regard the packing and sale, are exceedingly 

 strict, and even vexatious.* Massachusetts has 

 enacted many laws, from time to time, on the 

 same account ; but the Legislature has been par- 

 ticularly distinguished, in imitation of the moth- 

 er country, for enactments for the preservation 

 of species, as though the race were in danger 

 of being exterminated, unless immediately pro- 

 tected by the conservatory powers of the General 

 Court. 



In Portugal, in order to encourage the rearing 

 of cattle, the law forbids the killing of calves or 

 the sale of veal ; and further declares that 

 eating eggs, is really detrimental to the raising of 

 poultry ! With a degree of wisdom, worthy of 

 Portugal, the English Parliament ordains that a 

 ship of war shall cruise among the fishermen 

 on the coast of Scotland, to preserve the breed of 

 herring ! The duty of the officers is specially to 

 inspect the nets, and to seize such as have meshes 

 less than one inch square, the object of the law 

 being intended to allow the little young ones to 

 make their escape ! In the " Philosophical Trans- 

 actions" for 1767, it is clearly stated, that the 

 average number of eggs in a herring, is 36,969. 



* Appetits are half-cured herrings, prepared in France. 

 They are alsocalled bouffees, or swelled herrings. 



