CHAPTER II. 



DESCRIPTION OF HERRING. 



HE Herring, from the breadth of its 

 back, is a good swimmer. This 

 breadth is due to masses of flesh on 

 either side of the backbone. On 

 cutting through a herring at right 

 angles to the backbone, the form will 

 be seen to be that of an egg-shaped oval, the breadth 

 being greatest about the level of, or a little above, 

 the vertebra. On each side of the backbone are the 

 large muscles, each composed of fine fibres, which 

 collectively exercise the strong motive power needed 

 by the herring when swimming. By shortening the 

 muscles of the left side, the back part of the body 

 bends towards the left, and by shortening the muscles 

 on the right side, the back of the body bends to the 

 right ; these movements alternating with each other, 

 and rapidly repeated, impel the fish forward, while 

 the fins keep the body in the right position in the 

 water, or deflect its course as desired. It has 2 

 pectoral, 2 ventral, I dorsal, i anal, and i caudal 



