THE" PILCHARD. 360 



, June, and of which the arrival is also announced by 

 the swarms of its greedy attendants, the gannet, the 

 gull, the shark, the porpoise, and numbers besides of 

 the same predaceous race. When the main body 

 approaches, its extent and depth is such, as to make 

 a visible alteration in the appearance of the ocean. 

 It is generally divided into distinct columns of five or 

 six miles in length, and three or four in breadth; the 

 water curls up before them as if forced out of its bed. 

 Sometimes the whole column sinks for the space of 

 ten or fifteen minutes, then rises again to the surface r 

 and in bright weather reflects a variety of resplend- 

 ent colours, resembling a field bespangled with 

 flowers of purple, golden and azure tints. On their 

 arrival, the fishermen are ready for their reception, 

 and, with nets made for the occasion, sometimes take 

 two thousand barrels at one draught. 



Perhaps, my dear Sir, you had not before formed 

 any conception of the 'importance of the herring- 

 fishery ; and I have expatiated a little on the subject, 

 in order to give you a comprehensive view of so inte- 

 resting a portion of natural history. You will now per- 

 ceive that the herring is an important article in the 

 commercial, as welt us a curious one in the natural 

 system. The advantages that may be drawn/ from 

 this small fish, are indeed incalculable, for the her- 

 ring trade can be limited only by the consumption of 

 the commodity, and tile-number of hands employed 

 in the business. The article itself is absolutely inex- 

 haustible. 



THE PILCHARD 



bears so great a resemblance to the herring, that it 

 appears only to be a different species of the same 

 fish. Its history is also as nearly as possible the same. 

 Instead therefore of entering into any detail on the 

 subject, I shall, my dear Sir, only offer to your at- 

 tention a circumstance, which, by shewing what asto- 

 irishing numbers are sometimes taken on thfe coast of 

 Cornwall at one single shooting of the nets, will give 

 you an idea of the immense profits resulting fron* 

 these fisheries. 



R 5 



