CHAP. VI.] 



THE II ERRING FAMILY. 



245 



however, considered to" be so utterly repugnant to their privi- 

 leges and feelings, that not a single herring had ever since 

 visited that part of the shore ! 



The most prominent members of the Clupedice are the 

 common herring (Clupca harcngus) ; the sprat, or garvie (Clupca 

 spratlus) ; and the pilchard, or gipsy herring (Clupea pilcliardus). 



MEMBERS OF THE HERRING FAMILY. 

 1. Herring. 2. Sprat. 3. Pilchard. 



The other members of this family are the whitebait, the an- 

 chovy, and the Alice and Twaite shad ; but these, although 

 affording material for speculation to naturalists (see chapter on 

 " Fish Growth"), are not of any commercial importance. 



The fisheries for the common herring, the pilchard, and the 

 sprat, are carried on, with a brief interval, all the year round ; 

 but the great herring season is during the autumn from 

 August to October when the sea is covered with boats in 

 pursuit of that fine fish, and in some of its phases the herring- 

 fishery assumes an aspect that is decidedly picturesque. Every 

 little bay all round the island has its tiny fleet ; the mountain- 



