576 



THE OCEAN WOULD. 



In November, 1587, two herrings were taken on the coast of Norway, 

 on the bodies of which were markings resembling Gothic printed 

 characters. These herrings had the signal honour of being presented 

 to the King of Norway, Frederick II. This superstitious prince 

 turned pale at sight of this supposed prodigy. On the back of these 

 innocent inhabitants of the deep he saw certain cabalistic characters, 

 which he thought announced his death and that of his queen. Learned 



Fig. 383. The Herring (Clupea harengiis). 



men were consulted. Their science, as reported, enabled them to read 

 distinctly words expressing the sentiment, " Yery soon you will cease 

 to fish herrings, as well as other people." Other savants were assem- 

 bled, who gave another explanation ; but in 1588 the king died, and 

 the people were firmly convinced that the two herrings were celestial 

 messengers charged to announce to the Norwegian people the ap- 

 proaching end of the monarch. 



This fish abounds throughout the entire Northern Ocean in im- 

 mense shoals, which are found in the bays of Greenland, Lapland, and 

 round the whole coast of the British Islands. Great shoals of them 

 occupy the gulfs of Sweden, of Norway, and of Denmark, the Baltic 

 and the Zuyder Zee, the Channel, and the coast of France up 

 to the Loire, beyond which they never appear to be found. But the 



