294 A HISTORY OF 



these enemies the herrings are cooped up into so close a body, .hat a 

 shovel, or any hollow vessel put into the water, takes them up without 

 farther trouble. 



That body which comes upon our coasts, begins to appear off the 

 Shetland Isles in April. These are the forerunners of the grand 

 shoal which descends in June ; while its arrival is easily announced, 

 by the number of its greedy attendants, the gannet, the gull, the shark, 

 and the porpoise. When the main body is arrived, its breadth and 

 depth is such as to alter the very appearance of the ocean. It is di- 

 vided into distinct columns, of five or six miles in length, and three 

 or four broad ; while the water before them curls up, as if forced out 

 of its bed. Sometimes they sink for the space of ten or fifteen 

 minutes, then rise again to the surface ; and, in bright weather, re- 

 flect a variety of splendid colours, like a field bespangled with purple, 

 gold, and azure. The fishermen are ready prepared to give them a 

 proper reception ; and by nets made for the occasion, they take some- 

 times above two thousand barrels at a single draught. 



From the Shetland Isles, another body of this great army, where 

 it divides, goes off to the western coasts of Ireland, where they meet 

 with a second necessity of dividing. The one takes the Atlantic, 

 where it is soon lost in that extensive ocean, the other passes into the 

 Irish sea, and furnishes a very considerable capture to the natives. 



In this manner, the herrings, expelled from their native seas, seek 

 those bays and shores where they can find food, and the best defence 

 against their unmerciful pursuers of the deep. In general, the most 

 inhabited shores are the places where the larger animals of the deep 

 are least fond of pursuing ; and these are chosen by the herring as an 

 asylum from greater dangers. Thus, along the coasts of Norway, the 

 German shores, and the northern shores of France, these animals are 

 found punctual in their visitations. In these different places they 

 produce their young ; which, when come to some degree of maturity, 

 attend the general motions. After the destruction of such numbers, 

 the quantity that attempts to return is but small ; and Anderson 

 doubts whether they ever return. 



Such is the account given of the migration of these fishes, by one 

 who, of all others, was best acquainted with their history ; and yet 

 many doubts arise, in every part of the migration. The most obvious 

 which has been made is, that though such numbers perish in their 

 descent from the north, yet, in comparison to those that survive, the 

 account is trifling : and it is supposed, that of those taken by man, 

 the o r oportion is not one to a million. Their regularly leaving the 

 snore also at a stated time, would imply that they are not in their 

 visits under the impulse of necessity. In fact, there seems one cir- 

 cumstance that shows these animals governed by a choice with res- 

 oect to the shores they pitch upon ; and not blindly drove from one 

 shore to another. What I mean is, their fixing upon some shores for 

 several seasons, or indeed, for several ages together; and, after having 

 regularly visited them every year, then capriciously forsaking them, 

 never more to return. The first great bank for herrings was along 

 he shores of Norway. Before the year 1584, the number of shipa 

 irom all parts of Europe that resorted to that shore, exceeded some 

 thousands The quantity of herrings that were then assembled there. 



