174 HISTORY O F T H E 



to the eaft coaft of Ireland, and the weft coaft of 

 England, as far as the Briftol Channel. The other 

 ihoal fkirts along the weft coaft of Ireland, where after 

 vifiting the lakes of Donnegal, it gradually difap- 

 pears, and is finally loft in the immenfity of the 

 Atlantic. So bountiful is providence to the inhabi- 

 tants of the Britilh ifles, in one article of food only. 



<c Were we inclined, fays a well-known writer, 

 to confider this partial migration of the herring in 

 a moral light, we might reflect with veneration and 

 awe on the mighty power which originally imprefled 

 on this moft ufeful body of his creatures the inftinct 

 that directs and points out the courfe, that blef- 

 fes and enriches thefe iflands, which caufes them at 

 certain and invariable times to quit the vaft polar 

 deeps, and offer themfelves to our expecting fleets. 

 That benevolent being has never, from the earlieft 

 records, been once known to withdraw his blefTmg 

 from the whole, though he often thinks proper to 

 deny it to particulars ; yet this partial failure (for 

 which we fee no natural reafon) fhould fill us with 

 the moft exalted and grateful fenfe of his provi- 

 dence, for impreffing fo invariable and general an 

 inftindt on thefe tifh towards afouthward migration, 

 when the whole is to be benefited, and to withdraw 

 it only when a minute part is to fufFer. 



" This impreffion was given them, that they 

 might remove for the fake of depofiting their fpawn 

 in warmer feas, that would mature and vivify it 

 more a(Tu redly than thofe of the frigid zone. It is 

 not from defect of food that they fet themfelves in 

 motion, for they come to us full of fat, and on 

 their return are almoft univerfally obfcrved to be 

 lean and miierable. What their food is near the 

 pole, we are not yet informed ; but in our feas 

 they feed much on the onifcus marinus y a cruftace- 

 ous infect, and ibmetimes on their own fry. 



" They are in full roe to the end of June, and 

 continue in perfection till the beginning of winter, 



when 



