24 HERRING FISHERY. 



off the heads and tails of fuch as they fhould take-. 

 This favour has been granted alfo to fome other 

 ports. Now, if a regulation of this kind were ge- 

 nerally adopted, it would be of great fervice to 

 the fifliermen, and to the poor, without injuring the 

 herring trade. For by taking care, that the heads 

 of fuch herrings, as are caught after December, 

 fliould be cut off, it will be eafy to diftinguifh the 

 good ones from thofe of an inferior kind, and the 

 purchafers of fait herrings will be fure not to. be 

 impofed upon. 



Of the circumftances^ thought to be favourable 

 to. the Herring Fijhery* 



The fifhery is expe&ed to be good, when after 

 a troubled fea there comes on a calm, accompanied 

 with a mifl or thick fog ; when the wind blows 

 from the North or North Weft, or rather from that 

 part of the horizon, whence the herrings ufually 

 come : for in thefe cafes they come fooner and in 

 greater numbers to our coafts, Thofe winds ge- 

 nerally blow from a northern direction, and are the 

 fame that bring woodcocks to our coafls, and, 

 therefore, it is fuppofed that the herring feafon 

 will be good, when there is plenty of woodcocks. 



When a great number of fea-birds affemble in 

 any particular place, it is an almofl certain fign, 

 that there is abundance of herrings there. It 

 is alfo a good fign to catch Jea-dogs., as they follow 



the 



