CHAPTER III. 



HABITS AND APPEARANCE OF THE HERRING WHEN ON 

 THE COASTS. 



It is extremely interesting to observe the herring when 

 on the different coasts or fishing-grounds at the usual 

 seasons of their approach. On some of the coasts, as on 

 those of Norway, the herring shoals are frequently accom- 

 panied or pursued by numbers of whales and aquatic 

 birds, which are all occupied in preying on them. The 

 large dark masses of the whales rising and blowing and 

 throwing up great quantities of the herring into the air, 

 sparkling and glittering in the clear winter day ; the 

 constant movements of the birds with shrill notes actively 

 engaged in seizing their easily-obtained food, vying with 

 man in their attacks on the countless myriads of her- 

 rings ; and the appearance of numbers of fishing-boats 

 and vessels, with the sound of the voices of an active 

 body of fishermen — the ocean on the one side, and the 

 dark and lofty rocks on the other — is one of the most 

 extraordinary and interesting sights that can be con- 

 templated. 



The whales which thus principally prey on the her- 

 ring are the Balcena musculus and Balcena balcenoptera, 



