7V//: HKllRurO. 277 



others of its <;, -mis that come t<. us fi-om th.- north, this (is), comes from the south, to de|*.sit 

 it- -pawn. In Charleston, 8. C., it appear- in .lanuan . proceeding steadily along the coast, at 

 Norfolk in 1-Vl.ruary, and reaching New York in March or April, in accordance with the state 

 of the season. On the constof Massachusetts it appears in Ma\. The shad that reach the 

 headquarters of the Hudson attain a distance of one hundml and fifty miles from the mouth. 

 Shad in New England rank low, as the salt-water fishes of the northern coast are superior. 

 Bast of Boston, Shad are regarded as little better than herring. 



THE HERRING (f'/n/i><i hurengus) is undoubtedly the most valuable of fishes, and the one 

 which could least be spared. In Europe it is at once the luxury of the rich and the nourish- 

 ment of the poor, capable of preservation throughout a long period, easily packed, quic, 

 simply dressed, and equally good whether eaten fresh or salted, smoked or jutted. 



L TWAITB 8HAD.-JteM>iM. i. SPRAT. -Ohqwi .protfw. I MERINO - 



(OM4blri Mturml HM.) 



During the greater part of the year, the Herring lives in deep water, where its habits are 

 entirely unknown. About July or August, the Herring is urged, l>y the irresistible foi 

 instinct, to approach the shores for the purpose of depositing its spawn in the shallow waters, 

 where the warm rays of the sun may pour their vivifying influence upon the tiny eggs that 

 will hereafter produce creatures of so disproportionate a si/,.. an<l where the ever-moving tides 

 may fill the water with free oxygen as the waves dash on the shores and fall buck in whiten- -I 

 spray, thus giving to the water that sparkling freshness so needful for the development of the 

 future fish. 



The Herring is called Alewife in v .rland, Gasperean in the British provinces. Spring 



H.-rring, Blue-back, Saw-belly, and Cat-thresher in Main.-. The Narnigansetts called it 

 Aumscrag. Its range is from Newfoundland to Florida. It is thought that H.-I rings winter in 

 the Art-tic Circle and pass southward. They appear off the Shetland Islands in April and 

 nut the grand shoal is not s--n until June. The main body is described as altering the 

 appearance of the ocean miles in extent, divided in columns of six units' 1,-n-th. In America 

 the shad run up the rivers in March, the streams being so full they are trampled on at 

 ford ing- places. 



In Massachusetts the Taunton River is a famous place for Alewives. The erection of 



