WHEN THE HERRINGS ARE ON THE COASTS. 25 



water in a vast mass of many yards in extent, sparkling 

 and flashing, and flying several feet above the surface. 

 Another, when fishing for herrings above Queensferry, saw, 

 during the early daylight, a small shoal rise out of the 

 water, fly several feet above the surface, and pass over 

 to the other side of his nets. Both these men are quite 

 trustworthy. The herrings were perhaps pursued by 

 dogfish. 



We have several times accompanied the fishermen in 

 their boats to the fishing-ground, that we might become 

 acquainted with the appearance of the herring when on 

 our coasts, and to ascertain, if possible, the rule which 

 guides the fishermen in their search for the best fishing- 

 ground. There is something very pleasing and exciting 

 when the night is very dark, and the moon, of course, not 

 shining ; the boat rises and falls in a dark mass of water, 

 the water sends phosphorescent particles around the boat 

 at every stroke of the oar, the other boats are heard or 

 seen moving in the same direction. At the bows are piled 

 the nets ready for casting into the sea. Now and then we 

 come near the herrings, which to the eye appear quiescent 

 for a moment, in an instant they turn slightly on one 

 side, as if to look up at the boat, and quickly dart off, each 

 herring forming a line of fiery light. 



We found, generally, that the fishermen had no rule 

 for selecting their fishmg-ground, except their know- 

 ledge that a certain distance from the shore was the 

 most suitable, or that the spot chosen by them was prolific 

 in herrings on a previous occasion. They have, however, 

 to judge as to the best mode of placing the nets in con- 

 nection with the flow of the tides, and the safety of the 

 nets and boats, and the depth of the sea ; taking all 

 these, of course, into consideratiou, with the view of 



