PERIODICAL VISITS OF THE HERRING. 77 



Lumjiord, — The best lierriiig-fishery in Denmark was 

 at Liimfiord, on the east coast of Jutland. They were 

 fished twice a-year, the one fishery beginning in February, 

 if the ice was melted, and it continued in March and 

 April for the spring season ; and the other in November 

 and December in winter ; the latter caught herrings were 

 always the fattest, smallest, and best. The quantity 

 caught in a year was very considerable, perhaps about 

 200,000 barrels in both seasons. They came up the 

 Liimfiord full of spawn, and spawned there each season. 

 The entrance of the river leading to Liimfiord does not 

 exceed 360 feet in breadth, and there is there a com- 

 paratively shallow sandbank, the water being generally 

 clear, and the bottom a fine sand. It was observed by 

 the fishermen there, that the stronger the winds blew up 

 that frith, the more herrings were caught. These her- 

 rings were of small size, from the ninth to the tenth 

 class, and generally of good quality ; but in consequence 

 of the sea breaking through to the lake or frith on the 

 west coast of Jutland, the herring-fishery has been de- 

 stroyed, as the herrings have almost entirely disappeared, 

 and the town of Aalborg, on the east side, at the original 

 entrance of Liimfiord, has suffered very much in conse- 

 quence of the loss of this important fishery. This loch 

 may be now termed an estuary, and, therefore, Denmark 

 has one more island added to the numerous list. It is 

 possible the herrings may return ; but if they do not, tlie 

 mere circumstance of the sea making an entrance on the 

 opposite coast — and that as yet to a very moderate ex- 

 tent — being the cause of driving the herrings from this 

 their usual haunt, is a curious occurrence in the natural 

 history of this fish. 



Great Belt. — In the Great Belt lierrings are caught 



