SOURCES OF INFORMATION 25 



show the part played in the history of England 

 by the herring in the development of our trade, 

 the creation of a mercantile marine, a navy, 

 and a Colonial Empire which, rousing the envy 

 of Germany, caused her to plot our destruction. 

 These notes may also enable the student to 

 grasp what Germany means when she talks 

 about the Freedom of the Seas. 



Much of the information has been extracted 

 I in a somewhat disjointed way, not only from 

 recent essays and reports on the herring, but 

 also from works on political economy, from 

 Acts of Parliament and other indications of the 

 national policy during the twelfth to the 

 nineteenth century, from commercial histories, 

 archaeology, and standard works of reference 

 and from old political tracts and pamphlets. 

 I cannot lay claim to any original research. 

 The natural history of the herring has for the 

 most part lain outside my province. I make 

 no attempt whatever to construct a story or to 

 give these notes a dramatic interest. The notes 

 are merely collected and published to provide 

 a record of information in condensed and handy 

 form. 



During the year January 1st, 1913, to Decem- 

 ber 31st, 1913 (if I may be pardoned a per- 

 sonal reference to show a comparison between 

 consumption and supply), I ate 161 herrings 

 in one form or another, but, being a Norwich 



tman, principally as bloaters, and I suppose 



