446 



THE COMMON HERRING. 



Cteorgia and Carolina about the end of January, and off the coast of 

 Virginia in February. Hence they coast eastward to New England. 

 They then divide, and go into all the bays, rivers, creeks, and even small 

 itreams of water, in amazing numbers, and continue spawning in the 

 fresh water until the end of April, when the old fish return into tho 

 sea, where they change their latitudes by a northward direction, and 

 arrive at Newfoundland in May. After this they are no more seen in 

 America till the following spring. Their passing sooner or later up 

 the American rivers, depends on the warmth of the season ; and even 



TARMOUTH JETTEE. HEERIHO BOATB RETURNED. 



if a few warm days invite them up, and cool weather succeed, their 

 passnge is immediately checked till the heat becomes more powerful. 



The fecundity of the Herring is astonishing. It has been calculated, 

 that if the offspring of a single Herring could be suffered to multiply 

 unmolested and undiminished for twenty years, they would exhibit a 

 bulk ten times the size of the earth. But happily, Providence has so 

 contrived the balance of nature, by giving them innumerable enemies, 

 afl always to keep them within proper bounds. 



They once swarmed so excessively on the west side of the Isle ot 



