THE HERRING FISHERY. 



Growth of 

 herrings. 



Two classes 

 of herrings. 



Stomach. 



Weather- 

 its effects. 



Early develop- forming. I have seen head and eyes distinctly developed 

 five or six days after being spawned. 



If their growth could be ascertained as easily as that 

 of the salmon, it would most likely be found that the 

 herring, to arrive at maturity, takes months instead of 

 years, as is generally supposed at present. 



It is universally thought that there are two classes 

 of herrings, the " Gutpock," or herring that feeds, and the 

 herring that derives its nourishment from water only. All 

 herrings, however, must eat till they are full grown, and after 

 spawning they eat till they become " prime," that is, when 

 they become well filled with fat. If this fat was examined 

 the stomach would be found in the centre of it, completely 

 closed up. 



I believe that warm weather is beneficial for fishing, 

 especially in summer, as heat is requisite for bringing to 

 The food of life that small fry on which herrings feed. This fry is 

 scarcely discernible, but when sailing over a quantity of it 

 the water has a reddish appearance. It is generally near 

 the surface, and if drift-nets are run out through this, good 

 fishings are generally got if herrings are there in search of 

 their food. 



In my own experience at different fishing grounds I have 

 always found that the stomachs of prime herrings when 

 examined were empty, and that their general food was that 

 small animalculae which I have just referred to, and which, 

 depending on the warmth of the season, is to be found in 

 the end of April or the beginning of May. This animal- 

 Summer life, culae or Crustacea comes into life with the increasing heat 

 of the water, and dies when the cold comes, the quantity 

 always being in proportion to the degree of heat. Another 

 instance of this short summer life is to be found in the 

 jelly-fish, which appears in the beginning of summer affords 



Personal 

 experience. 



Food of 

 herrings. 



Jelly-fish. 



