438 NATURAL HISTORY. 



over the shoals and commit unceasing devastation among them. 

 Yet in spite of the myriads destroyed by birds and fishes, in 

 spite of the^shoals captured by man, in spite of the vast quan- 

 tity of spawn devoured by other fishes, their numbers seem 

 quite undiminished, and each year they are led by the instinct 

 inculcated in them by Providence, to visit the shore in incal- 

 culable numbers, not only to yield to man an unfailing supply, 

 but to make the necessary provision for the increase of their 

 number. 



The fishery is conducted by boats and nets, the whole 

 fitting up of each boat costing little less than 1000Z. To 

 add to the expense, the whole apparatus must be renewed 

 every four or five years, as independently of the injuries inflict- 

 ed by the sea and the weight of fish, the dog-fish, which 

 unremittingly follows the shoals of herrings, is often entangled 

 in the nets together with its intended victims, and by its 

 sharp teeth and vigorous struggles makes sad ravages among 

 the nets. 



"When taken out of the water, the herring dies almost 

 immediately, as do all fish that live near the surface of the 

 water. Those on the contrary, as the carp, tench, eels and 

 the flat fish, who reside at the bottom, are able to sustain 

 life for a much longer period when taken out of their native 

 element. It is therefore necessary that the herrings should 

 be cured as soon as possible. The " "White Herring" are 

 cured in the boats, but the " Red Herrings" are taken on 

 shore and suspended in the smoke of a wood fire for twenty- 

 four hours in addition to the salting that both they and the 

 White Herring undergo. 



The well-known SPRAT (Clupea Sprattus) also belongs to 

 the genus Clupea, and, like the herring, visits our shores in 

 large shoals. The Sprat fishery commences in the beginning 

 of November. Not only are enormous quantities of this small 

 but useful fish used as food, and sent into all parts of this 

 country, but they are very largely used as manure ; fish, ac- 

 cording to the researches of Sir H. Davy, being a most power- 

 ful manure, retaining its fertilising influence for a long time. 

 Many thousand tons' weight of sprats are annually used for this 

 purpose. 



The White-bait belongs to the same family. 



