WHEN THE HERRINGS ARE ON THE COASTS. 31 



ing with them probably a great many other individuals of 

 the same species. It might perhaps add to our know- 

 ledge of the natural history of this animal if some of the 

 proprietors of sea-water fish-ponds were to make experi- 

 ments in the same way, by removing the spawn, or 

 even by transporting the herring alive. The said author 

 also states, that in Sweden thy have been transported 

 alive to waters where they were awauting. But if the 

 latter plan be attempted, great care must be taken to 

 keep the bronchial opening shut in removing them from 

 one water to the other, for herrings soon die in con- 

 sequence of the drying of the bronchies. The summer 

 herring spawns from the end of September to the be- 

 ginning or middle of October ; the winter herring spawns 

 in February and March. 



Like other fishes of a similar form, the herring ad- 

 vances through the water by means of the tail, which is 

 moved in rapid elastic flexures, somewhat similar to the 

 sculling of an oar ; the other fins are evidently adapted 

 for steadying it in its progress, and for enabling it to 

 rise and descend in the water, with the assistance of the 

 air-bladder. When the herrings swim near the surface, 

 if it is calm weather, the sound of their motion is dis- 

 tinctly heard at a small distance ; and at night their 

 motion, if rapid, causes a beautiful bright line, from the 

 phosphorescent quality of the skin ; and it is also said, 

 that when a great body of them swims near the surface, 

 their presence is ascertained by a strong fishy smell. 



Light and heat appear to have also very considerable 

 influence upon the motions of the herring ; for instance, 

 when the spring or summer has been unusually clear 

 and warm, we have observed that the herrings do not 

 come so near our coasts as they do in ordinary seasons. 



