273 



their countless myriads have deprived the north- 

 ern latitudes ; for they are observed to come to 

 us full of fat, and on their return to be lean and 

 miserable. 



The wise regulations of the Dutch have contri- 

 buted much to preserve the reputation of their 

 herrings, and to multiply the species. Every 

 season each fisherman is obliged to swear that 

 he will no.t cast his nets before the 25th of June, 

 and when the season is over, he again swears 

 that he has been faithful to his oath. Another 

 law provides, that the fisherman shall cease to 

 ply his nets on the 25th of January ; and the fish 

 are thus permitted to cast their spawn uninter- 

 rupted and in safety. Hence, the Dutch fisheries 

 are far more productive than those of other na- 

 tions ; for migratory fish universally return to 

 the places where they were permitted to spawn 

 without being disturbed. Another Dutch law 

 enjoins, that the meshes of all herring nets shall 

 be of one size, by which means all small fish 

 escape, and only the large and full grown are 

 captured. 



The herring, which is so extensively exposed 

 to the voracity of other animals, belongs itself 

 to the class of voracious fishes. It feeds for the 

 most part upon small entomostracese. Newcrantz 

 tells us he has found many small crabs undigest- 

 ed in its stomach ; and Lewenhoeck frequently 

 discovered there the eggs or spawn of many spe- 

 cies. They seem to be fond of worms ; and the 

 Norwegian fishermen often find a worm, which 



