HERRING. 97 



conspicuous; but the season of either of these is often extended 

 or delayed beyond what may be considered the more regular 

 time; from which cause it happens that in the opinion of 

 fishermen they may even be said to be in spawn throughout 

 the whole of the year; and it is often in the end of December 

 they are engaged in this office of nature. There cannot be 

 a doubt that many of the subordinate actions of this fish are 

 regulated by this innate propensity of nature; and it has been 

 well remarked by those who have had the wisdom to discern 

 the hand of the Author of Providence in His works, how 

 great is the blessing thus bestowed on man, in supplying him 

 with abundant and excellent food at the time when it is 

 best fitted to his use. Nor is it an objection to this that 

 the movements of these fishes while with us are apparently 

 uncertain, and that they do not remain in any district for 

 more than a few days. In men the virtues of vigilance, 

 patience, and skill are thereby called into exercise, as the 

 same are demanded indeed in some degree in every other 

 pursuit which men must follow for their daily bread. 



We are informed that at Stornaway, in the Scotch Isle of 

 Lewis, the Herring fishery begins on the 20th. of May, and 

 the law forbids its earlier commencement; but the 1st. day of 

 June is thought sufficiently early in the north of Scotland, 

 whilst off Shetland they are first fished for at the beginning 

 of July, and other large schools do not shew themselves before 

 November and December. On the east coast of Scotland they 

 chiefly abound from September to October, but are taken 

 onward from November to January; and Dr. Parnell remarks 

 that they will remain for two or three weeks at the mouth of 

 the Firth of Forth before they ascend; but they abound on 

 the coasts of Dunbar and Berwick in June, July, and August, 

 when scarcely a single Herring is to be seen higher in the 

 Forth. In the west of England they are caught in the most 

 abundance from about the end of September to November, but 

 sometimes, as in the years 1863 and 1864, they are also in good 

 quantity through January and February; and there are years 

 when large numbers of the best quality are caught in July 

 and August; but it seems certain that in the generality of 

 these instances the schools which thus shew themselves are 

 either of different age, the progeny of different parents, or 

 VOL. iv. o 



