52 BRITISH IND USTRTES. 



as provisional ; but they point to a high degree of 

 temperature in the sea being unfavourable to fishing, 

 and that when the sea is found to be colder in any one 

 district than in that on either side of it, the herrings 

 are more abundant and the fishery is more successful 

 in the colder than in the warmer water. The com- 

 mittee also state, as quoted in the Keport of the Scotch 

 Fishery Board of the fishery of 1875, that "the in- 

 fluence of thunderstorms was equally seen as in former 

 years. If there is a thunderstorm of some magnitude, 

 extending over a large portion of the east of Scotland, 

 good takes may be made on that day, but on the follow- 

 ing day, few if any fish are caught over that part of 

 the coast, unless at the extreme verge of a deep part of 

 the sea, as if the fish were retreating thither." Obser- 

 vations on the influence of winds and the temperature 

 of the sea have also been made by the Dutch fisher- 

 men ; and Herr von Freedon, of Hamburg, Director 

 of the German See Warte, believes, from an analysis 

 of these observations, that a temperature of from 53 

 to 57 degrees of Fahrenheit is most favourable for the 

 herring fishing, and that the chances of success 

 diminish with higher or lower temperatures. These 

 investigations are of very great interest ; and if the 

 results do not teach the fishermen how to make a suc- 

 cessful fishing every year, they may at all events 

 account for failure when it does occur, and so prevent 

 a repetition of the mischief, which, before now, has 

 been caused by the senseless cry that the fisheries are 

 being ruined. There are many problems to be solved 

 in connection with the movements of wandering fishes, 



