SALMON -FISHERY OF SCOTLAND. 27 



distinct variety of the species belonging to itself, as each sal- 

 mon river has its own breed or variety of salmon, they would 

 have seen that the separate subdivisions, or tribes, of which the 

 great shoal is composed, are the distinct families or tribes be- 

 longing to each loch, which detach themselves from the main 

 body, and enter their respective lochs as they reach them, just 

 as the salmon enter their own rivers. 



Dr Walker, indeed, states, " It may be questioned whether 

 or not herrings return to the place where they were spawned, 

 as on this point I could obtain no certain information." The 

 only information, however, which it was possible for him to 

 obtain on the subject, was the simple fact, that the same dis- 

 tinct variety of the species was uniformly found in the same 

 loch. This fact alone was sufficient ; because, as with salmon, 

 it could not exist, save by each returning to breed in its own 

 loch, and to no other. The thing would be quite impossible, 

 since, as we have remarked with regard to salmon, all the 

 varieties of the species would be blended together by promis- 

 cuous intermixture. Why, it may be asked, did Nature, which 

 has done nothing in vain, or uselessly, or without a purpose, 

 engraft into herrings, as into salmon, the gregarious instinct of 

 collecting into tribes, each composed of a distinct variety of the 

 species, and of preserving themselves from intermixture with 

 other tribes ? What other purpose could there be for it, save 

 the one we have stated? Mr Headrick, who seems to have 

 bestowed much attention on the fisheries, remarks, " No High- 

 lander was ever more averse to spurious intermixture with 

 other clans than herrings are to associations with other tribes. 

 I have been told of two shoals meeting, which crossed each 

 other with some confusion, but without an individual of the 

 one shoal associating with the other. In fact, a discerning eye, 

 assisted by the sense of taste, can perceive a difference of 

 quality and frequently of size, between the herrings which 

 frequent the different lochs." 



This difference is, in fact, acknowledged universally. The 

 fishermen at Loch-duich can distinguish the herrings of that 

 loch from those of Loch Long, though the two lochs are only 

 separated from each other by a narrow point of land ; and at 



