HERRING FISHERY. * 



\ P 



pofed on our coafts to great and unavoidable ha- 

 voc. Is it not a ftriking inflance of the goodnefs 

 of divine providence, to draw this prodigious 

 fwarm of ufeful fifti into our nets ? This explana- 

 tion, however pious, affords little light to the na- 

 tural hiftorian, who may be inclined to aik; 

 fmce divine providence is fo gracious in this ref- 

 pec*t, why does it not fend us a troop of whales to 

 furnilh us with train oil at lefs labour and coft, 

 than we can now procure it ? The celebrated bur- 

 gomafter of Hamburg, Mr. Anderfon, is of opini- 

 on, that the emigration of herrings is owing to the 

 overflow of young ones, who not finding fufficient 

 room in their old habitations, fally out in queft of 

 new fettlements, as fo many colonies. This opini- 

 on does not at all account for the phenomenon. 

 How can periodical emigrations, always taking 

 place at ftated feafons, proceed from fo uncertain 

 a caufe as the mere accident of an overflowing po- 

 pulation ? 



How will this hypothelis account for the con- 

 ftant adherence to the fame tracl:, the feparation 

 and reunion of the main body, at ftated places and 

 at ftated times ? Whereas, mere want of room 

 would drive them indifcriminately towards any or 

 all places. sdly, So far from being the effect of 

 cxceflive multiplication, it feems to be the motive 

 of it. They are not the only fpecies, which un- 

 dergoes long voyages, for the fake of propagation. 

 B 2 Many 



