CHAPTER VIII. 



MIGEATION* 



Various accounts have been given of the visits of the 

 herring upon our coasts. Many writers have stated, and 

 some scientific works still state, that the herring comes 

 from the Arctic Circle, in large shoals of some leagues' 

 extent, dividing into lesser shoals on coming towards the 

 north of Scotland — one body proceeding to the west coast 

 of Scotland and to Ireland, and another to the east coast, 

 each directing its course southward. Others state, that 

 although the herrings do not come from the Arctic Circle, 

 they at least come from a considerable distance northward 

 of Scotland. But we consider that the herrings inhabit 

 the seas adjacent to the coasts, bays, or rivers where 

 they resort for the purpose of spawning ; and that after 

 spawning they return to sea in the neighbourhood, where 

 they continue, and where they feed until the spawning 

 season again approaches, while the fry, on being vivified, 

 continues near the spawning-ground until it is of suffi- 

 cient size. This is the most rational conclusion, and the 

 following are our reasons for this opinion : — 



1. We find every year, at a certain period of tJie year, 

 a particular size of herring always resorting to the same 



* Read at the Zoological Section of the British Association meeting for 

 the Promotion of Science held at Manchester in 18G1. 



