OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



497 



from twelve to fixteen inches long, and gradually augment, both in 

 number and fize, till about the end of July or the beginning of Au- 

 guft, when they weigh from fix to nine pounds. This is a very ra- 

 pid growth. But a gentleman of credit at Warrington informed 

 Mr Pennant of a growth ftill more rapid. A falmon, weighing fe- 

 ven pounds and three quarters, was taken on the feventh day of Fe- 

 bruary. It was marked on the back, fin, and tail, with fciflars, and 

 then turned into the river. It was retaken on the 17th day of the 

 following month of March, and then it weighed feventeen pounds 

 and a half. The feafon for fifhing falmon in the Tweed begins on 

 the 30th of November, and ends on old Michaelmas day. In that 

 fingle river, it is computed that no lefs than 208000, at a medium, 

 are annually caught, which, together with the produds of many 

 other rivers on both fides of Scotland, not only afford a wholefomc 

 and palatable food to the inhabitants, but form no inconfiderable 

 article of commerce. 



Herrings are likewife aduated by the migrating principle. Thefe 

 fifhes are chiefly confined to the northern and temperate regions of 

 the globe. They frequent the higheft latitudes, and are fometimes 

 found on the northern coafts of France. They appear in vaft fhoals 

 on the coaft of America, as far fouth as Carolina. In Chefapeak 

 Bay there is an annual inundation of herrings; and Mr Catefby in- 

 forms us, that they cover the fhores in fuch amazing numbers as to 

 become offenfive to the inhabitants. The great winter rendezvous 

 of the herrings is within, or near, the Arftic Circle, where they re- 

 main feveral months, and acquire ftrength after being weakened by 

 the fatigues of fpawning, and of a long migration. In thefe feas, 

 infedl food Is much more abundant than in warmer latitudes. They 

 begin their migration fouthward in the fpring, and appear off the 

 Shetland iflands in the months of April and May. Thefe, however, 

 are only the forerunners of the immenfe fhoal which arrives in June, 

 t 3 II Their 



