COMMON HERRING. 101 



grand shoal which comes in June, and their appear- 

 ance is marked by certain signs, by the numbers of 

 birds, such as Gannets and others, which follow to 

 prey on them : but when the main body approaches,, 

 its breadth and depth is such as to alter the very 

 appearance of the ocean. It is divided into distinct 

 columns of five or six miles in length and three or 

 four in breadth, and they drive the water before 

 them with a kind of rippling : sometimes they sink 

 for the space of ten or fifteen minutes ; then rise 

 again to the surface, and in bright weather reflect 

 a variety of splendid colours, like a field of the most 

 precious gems, in which, or rather in a much more 

 valuable light, should this stupendous gift of Pro- 

 vidence be considered by the inhabitants of tliQ 

 British isles. 



" The first check this army meets in its march 

 southward, is from the Shetland isles, which divide 

 it into two parts ; one wing takes to the east, the. 

 other to the western shores of Great Britain, and 

 fill every bay and creek with their numbers : others 

 pass on towards Yarmouth, the great and ancient 

 mart of Herrings : they then pass through the Brit- 

 ish channel, and after that, in a manner disappear : 

 those which take to the west, after offering them- 

 selves to the Hebrides, where the great stationary 

 fishery is, proceed towards the North of Ireland, 

 where they meet with a second interruption, and 

 are obliged to make a second division : the one 

 takes to the western side, and is scarce perceived, 

 being soon lost in the immensity of the Atlantic ; 

 but the other, which passes intp the Irish sea, re- 



v, v. P i. 11 



