THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING. 5 



ill this country by the system of management and organi- 

 sation established by the Board in this country. 



The Lords of the Privy Council for Trade of this country 

 have also directed their attention to the subject of the 

 natural history of the herring, and have sent to the vari- 

 ous fishing-stations printed circulars, entitled — 



" 1st, Questions for a series of observations to solve the 

 natural history of the herring. 



" 2d, Additional questions in aid of the observations to 

 solve the natural history of the herring." 



The answers required, if given, may go partly to estab- 

 lish a few of the facts which we endeavour to elucidate 

 on the natural history of the herring ; but until the pre- 

 sent time, no report has been published of the answers 

 obtained by the Board of Trade. We have therefore no 

 doubt that the same kindness shown by our Government 

 to foreign nations as to the fisheries at Newfoundland, 

 the British American coasts, and on the Scottish coasts, 

 caused the Grovernment to endeavour to obtain answers to 

 these inquiries, for the purpose of aiding the Dutch 

 Government to pursue their inquiry as to the best means 

 of restoring the Dutch herring fishery, the object in view, 

 as stated by the Dutch Meteorological Society in their 

 report. 



We therefore consider that it is a reproach to this 

 country that no separate or satisfactory work has yet 

 been written by any one, from actual experience, to eluci- 

 date tLe natural history of this the most important of the 

 finny tribe, far surpassing in value, and as a source of 

 wealth, prosperity, and maritime strength, every other 

 that can be named. 



Many statesmen, even such statesmen as are referred to 

 by the great French authority, may look on the auriferous 



