28 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



ture," when they enter upon the serious duties of life, 

 making preparations for the fulfilment of the respon- 

 sibilities of their being. They are supposed to reach 

 their full size in their fourth year, when, having thus 

 far escaped their numerous enemies, their experience 

 gives them some little chance in life, not much, 

 however, while curing-houses exist. 



Herring feed mostly on small crustaceans, which 

 inhabit various localities in myriads, and also on crab 

 spawn, sea-lice, and eels, shrimps, small fry of other 

 fish, not always sparing their own offspring. At 

 certain seasons they feed on small oily aquatic ani- 

 mals, at which time they are no more fit for human 

 food than an alderman, save among sharp-set canni- 

 bals. The herring is gregarious, swimming in shoals 

 that may be likened to the regiments of an army on 

 the march : the smaller schools of a given locality 

 gathering together to form this grand army, the 

 whole being led by the larger and stronger fish, the 

 weaker falling back to the rear, where they become a 

 prey to the demon dog-fish and whales, which hang 

 about the skirts of them. They all swim in the same 

 direction. If, for any reason, the leaders turn, the 

 school makes the same movement. As a rule, they 

 move in a straight, or slightly-curved, line ; but 

 sometimes they wheel about, when those in the centre 

 remain stationary, while the outer members pass 

 through the water rapidly. When they move swiftly 

 in large masses, a peculiar glitter is produced upon 

 the surface of the water, called by fishermen " herring- 

 light." The old amphibious Norseman, half fisher- 



