FISHRS. 591 



deduced, from a consideration of the annual takes of many years, 

 that the herring exists in distinct races, which arrive at maturity 

 month after month. It is well known that the herrings taken at 

 Wick in July are quite different from those caught at Dunbar in 

 August and September ; indeed, I would go further, and say that 

 even at Wick each month has its changing shoal, and that as one 

 race appears for capture another disappears, having fulfilled its 

 mission. It is certain that the herrings of these different seasons 

 vary considerably in size and appearance ; localities are marked by 

 distinctive features. Thus, the well-known Loch Fyne herring is 

 essentially different from that of the Firth of Forth; and those 

 differ again, in many particulars, from those caught off Yarmouth. 

 In fact, the herring never ventures far from the shore where it is 

 taken ; and its condition, when it is caught, is just an index of the 

 feeding it has enjoyed in its particular locality. The superiority of 

 flavour of the herring taken in our great land-locked salt-water lochs 

 is undoubted. Whether or not resulting from the depth and body of 

 water, from more plentiful marine vegetation, or from the greater 

 variety of land food likely to be washed into these inland seas, has 

 not yet been determined, but it is certain that the herrings of our 

 western sea-lochs are infinitely superior to those captured in the more 

 open sea." " Moreover," he adds, " it is now known, from the 

 inquiries of the late Mr. Mitchell and other authorities on the 

 geographical distribution of the herring, that the fish has never 

 been noticed as being at all abundant in the arctic regions." 



The herring feeds on small crustaceans, fishes just hatched, and 

 even on the fry of its own species. Its enemies are among the most 

 formidable inhabitants of the ocean ; the whales destroy them by 

 thousands, but man, above all, carries on a war which almost 

 threatens to be one of extermination. The herring-fishery has been 

 to certain nations the great cause of their prosperity. It was the 

 foundation of Dutch independence. Silk, manufacture, coffee, tea, 

 spices, which are productive of great commercial movements, address 

 themselves only to the wants of luxury or fashion ; the produce oi 

 the herring-fishery, on the contrary, is one of necessity to the people: 

 and Holland would have languished and quickly disappeared, with its 

 sinking territory, if the sea had not added to its commercial industry 

 this inexhaustible mine of wealth. That vast field it has worked with 

 persevering ardour. Struggling for an existence, it has conquered. 

 Every year numerous vessels leave the coast of Holland for this pre- 

 cious marine harvest. The herring fishery is, for the Dutch people, 

 the most important of maritime expeditions. It is with them known 



