264 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



velocity of arrows, and clear considerable waterfalls, 

 leaping a height of ten, twelve, and even as much as 

 twenty feet. The usual time at which the Salmon 

 leaves the sea is the autumn ; it remains in the rivers 

 during the winter, and returns to the sea, after having 

 deposited its spawn, in the spring. The fishing of this 

 excellent and universally admired fish gives employ- 

 ment to many thousands of people, throughout the 

 whole of the north of Europe. Salmon fisheries, it has 

 been said, rank next to agriculture. In this country 

 the Scotch rivers supply by far the greater proportion 

 of the salmon brought to market. The total value of 

 the Scotch fisheries has been calculated at 150,000 a 

 year." 



Many salmon are caught by stake nets, and also by 

 the practice of " spearing ; " this is a very picturesque 

 sight, as it is conducted by torchlight. 



The Herring (Clupea Harengus) makes its visit to this 

 country about September, in enormous shoals, extending 

 many miles each way ; they are caught in great quan- 

 tities and salted in the boats immediately ; when 

 brought on shore they are suspended in the smoke of 

 wood fires, and become " red herrings." The Herring 

 fisheries are very important, and afford like the Salmon 

 fisheries employment to thousands ; the greatest 

 quantities are caught off the coast of Norway, where 

 it is calculated about 400,000,000 are taken yearly. 

 A great many are caught off Lowestoffe, and Wick, 

 in Caithness. The Pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) is a 

 kind of Herring, and is caught in enormous quantities 

 off the coasts of Cornwall. The Sprat and Whitebait 

 are species of " Clupea." 



3. MALACOPTERYGII STTB-BRACHIALES (Sub-brachial soft fin). 



The brachial Malacopterygii include most of the Plat Fish ; 

 as the Turbot, Plaice, Sole, &c. (fig. 40). The Turbot, and 

 Halibut are caught out in the deep waters, but the Plaice 

 and Flounders, chiefly in shallows ; these fish have one 

 side dark and the other light, and both eyes are placed on 



