98 HERRING. 



under different circumstances of spawning. We cannot venture 

 to draw any conclusion from such variations with regard to 

 the extent of their wanderings when they have disappeared 

 from our view. The only probable conjecture regarding it is 

 that in their ordinary habits they only pass from the deeper 

 water to the shore, to return to the former again immediately 

 as the great duty of spawning is accomplished. On the whole, 

 the general constancy of this fish to the British coast appears 

 not the less worthy of notice, since we are informed that as 

 regards Sweden and a portion of Denmark, they have long 

 ceased to appear in districts where once they were known and 

 welcomed; and although, if we could look back to a much 

 greater distance of time, the visits may have been more 

 unusual than the departure, yet in this respect also this alter- 

 nation of habits bears a resemblance to what we have already 

 noticed in the Pilchard. Thus we are told that in Loch 

 Roag, in the Island of Lewis, the scarcity or absence of the 

 Herring and its abundance have taken turns at intervals of 

 from thirty to forty years; and at Cromarty, says Mr. Mitchell, 

 a very extensive fishery was carried on from 1690 to 1709, 

 and in 1707 an immense shoal was thrown (or rather ran 

 themselves) on shore in a little bay to the east of the town, 

 so that the beach was covered with them to the depth of 

 several feet; but, strange to say, they left the Firth in a single 

 night, and no shoals again made their appearance for more 

 than half a century. 



We have already said that without doubt a principal impulse 

 which drives the Herring to our shores is the instinct of 

 shedding its spawn; and it seems certain also that such 

 individuals of these fishes as are in an equal degree of for- 

 wardness in the preparation for this function, are collected 

 into one company; in proof of which it was observed, that 

 early in January, 1864, not far from Plymouth, all that were 

 caught in drift-nets on one day, to a large amount would be 

 shotten, while an equal number on the day before or after 

 would be full of roe; and the fishermen had good reason to 

 notice this, as the price of each capture differed considerably. 

 I am informed that no Pilchards are found to be mingled 

 with these assembled bodies of Herrings, although it is common 

 to find Herrings among a collected body of Pilchards. 



