HERRING NET. 249 



tion, increased temperature and oxygen ; and as soon 

 as that essential operation is effected, the immense 

 shoals that haunt our coast disappear, but individuals 

 are found, and some are taken at other times through- 

 out the year. 



Our common herring spawns towards the end of 

 October or the beginning of November ; and it is for 

 two or three months previous to this, when they 

 assemble in immense numbers, that the fishing is 

 carried on, which is of such great and national im- 

 portance. And here, Mr. Couch observes, " we cannot 

 but admire the economy of Divine Providence, by 

 which this and several other species of fish are brought 

 to our shores, within reach of man, at the time when 

 they are in their highest perfection, and best suited to 

 be his food." 



The mode of fishing for herrings is by drift-nets, 

 similar to those employed for taking mackerel, with a 

 slight difference in the size of the mesh ; the netting 

 being one inch and a quarter from knot to knot, and 

 the aperture therefore but two inches and a half. 

 The net is suspended by its upper edge from the drift- 

 rope by various shorter and smaller ropes, called buoy- 

 ropes ; and considerable practical skill is required in 

 the arrangement, that the net may hang with the 

 meshes square, smooth, and even, in the water, and 

 at the proper depth ; for, according to the wind, tide, 

 situation of their food, and other causes, the herrings 

 swim at various depths below the surface. 



The size of the boat for this purpose depends on 

 the distance from shore at which the fishery is carried 

 on ; but, whether in deep or shallow water, the nets 



