l HERRING FISHERY. 



ber, when almofl all the herrings that come into 

 the Channel are full, there are fome fliotten ones 

 found among them. 



Some fifhermeri think, that in the Englifh fea, 

 the fpawning feafon is in Oftober : this may be 

 the cafe as to fome herrings, but not as to the 

 greateft number. However, towards the middle 

 of November they take flaotten herrings at Yar- 

 mouth, though not in as great quantities as in the 

 Channel, where fliotten herrings are fometimes 

 found in the middle of October. The common 

 opinion is, that herrings fpawn but once a year, 

 and that they come into our feas for that purpofe. 

 It is certain, that they fpawn near our coafts ; and 

 the condition of the eggs of the herrings, that are 

 taken at Shetland, compared with that of the eggs 

 of thofe, that are taken at Yarmouth, and in the 

 Channel, adhially feems to prove, that they come 

 into our feas on purpofe to fpawn. Neverthelefs, 

 ifweconfider the immenfe quantities of them, that 

 come from the North, we fhall be inclined to 

 think, that fome of them fpawn there. They arc 

 perhaps like the bees, that multiply in their hives, 

 and fend out fwarms^ when they become too nu- 

 merous. 



Shotten herrings do not conftitute a diflincl: ipe- 

 cies from the others. They are thofe, which have 

 difcharged their eggs or milt, and are therefore 

 generally worfe than the full ones, on account of 

 the ficknefs that they are fubje& to at the time of 



fpawning* 



