JURA. HERRING. 203 



It is almost unnecessary to say to those acquainted 

 with the fisheries on our different coasts, that Pennant's 

 account of the migration of the herring shoals is purely 

 visionary; nor has any more recent writer succeeded 

 in reconciling, by any general theory, the several periods 

 of its appearance in different places, or its difference of 

 condition at the same time on different shores. The sub- 

 ject is of great importance in an economical view, ex- 

 ceeding indeed in that respect most departments of natural 

 history, and highly worthy the attention of a naturalist. 

 It is also far from being so inaccessible as seems to be 

 imagined ; since a large collection of facts on the subject 

 might be obtained by any enlightened observer who should 

 turn his attention to it. 



It is at any rate certain that the herring breeds in the 

 bays on the west coast of Scotland ; as the young fish 

 are found throughout that sea immediately after their 

 exclusion. They do not therefore arrive from the arctic seas 

 as Mr. Pennant imagined. Neither, on their first arrival, 

 do they come in shoals. On the contrary, they are so 

 scattered that they cannot be taken by the net in the 

 usual way. At that time they are often caught in con- 

 siderable abundance by a fly, or any bright substance ; 

 often by new tinned hooks, which they seize with great 

 avidity; presenting both an amusing sport and a pro- 

 fitable occupation, as one man has been known thus to 

 take a barrel and a half during the few days this fishery 

 lasts. So far from their being migratory to the extent 

 supposed, it would also appear, on the contrary, that 

 their residence is in the deep water all round the northern 

 coasts of Britain ; since throughout nearly the whole year 

 they are taken by the deep sea fishers ; forming the most 

 profitable and steady branch of this fishery, for a long time 

 exclusively possessed by the Dutch, but now much fol- 

 lowed by busses from Scotland; of the commerce of 

 which, the taking and the exportation of the herring 

 forms an important branch. 



