PERIODICAL VISITS OF THE HERRING. 55 



June, but the boats are often later in proceeding to the 

 fishery. When the herrings are deficient on the north or 

 east side, they are often abundant on the west or south 

 side ; and when few herrings can be fished at Yell, Unst, 

 or Fetlar, considerable quantities are fished ofi* Levenwick, 

 Sandsair, Aithsyoe, Lerwick, and Bressay on the east 

 side. This may be accounted for by the prevalence of the 

 easterly or westerly winds. The greatest quantities are 

 caught in July, August, and September. The herrings 

 taken on the east side are generally two-thirds " full 

 fish" and one-third " spent fish," while fully more than 

 one-half of those caught in September are spent fish. 



The herrings caught on the north-west of Hillswick, 

 Papa, and Vaila, are similar to those of the east side, 

 although not quite so large. 



The herrings on the west side, particularly in the bay 

 or firth between Fitful Head and Skeldness, are quite 

 difi'erent from the herrings fished on the east side, being- 

 similar in size to the Lochfine herrings. About one-fifth 

 of those fished are full herrings ; rather more than a fifth 

 are matjes, and these may be considered equal in quality, 

 as well as size, to the Lochfine herrings ; and rather 

 less than three-fifths are spent-herrings, or rather have 

 not their ovaries developed, but do not appear to have 

 recently deposited their spawn. In size, those of the north 

 and east of Shetland belong to the fifth and sixth class, 

 and those of the west to the seventh or eighth class. 



Orkneys — West side. — Shoals of small herrings, of about 

 the ninth or tenth class, appear from the middle of May 

 to the middle of July, about ten miles from the land, 

 between Costa Ilead, north, and the entrance of the Pent- 

 land Firth, south. These herrings resemble those fished 

 oft' Thurso ; the ovaries are hardly developed, and tboir 



