. THE HERRING. 3] 9 



of October, and it is nearly three months previous to this 

 operation that they are found to appear on our shores, 

 when they become of so great national importance. 



The spawning of these fish in October only does not ap- 

 pear to me to account for the number of small fry, two in- 

 ches in length, that are found in the Firth of Forth during 

 the month of July ; and the young herrings that are taken 

 from six to seven inches long in the month of February, 

 mixed also with fry from two to three inches in length. 

 When herrings are brought to the market in the first two 

 months of the year, I have always found them full of 

 spawn, and in the middle of March I have observed many 

 very lank, with not a single ovum to be seen in them. 

 Hence it is not improbable that the same species of her- 

 ring may spawn twice in the year, early in the month of 

 March, and also towards the end of October. 



Pennant supposes that the herring migrates to a con- 

 siderable distance ; that they begin to appear first off the 

 Shetland Islands, in April and May, and to divide into 

 distinct columns from four to six miles in length, and three 

 to four in breadth ; and that, after they have taken their 

 circuit, they return again to the Arctic Circle, where they 

 recruit themselves after the fatigue of spawning. But it 

 is more consistent to suppose, that the herrings approach 

 our shores for the purpose of depositing their spawn like 

 other fishes, and when this is accomplished, return again 

 to the deep sea. Dr Knox considers the food of the Her- 

 ring, while inhabiting the depths of the ocean, to consist 

 principally of minute entomostracous animals ; but it is 

 certainly less choice (adds Mr Yarrell) in its selection 

 when near the shore. Dr Neill found five young herrings 

 in the stomach of a large female herring ; he has also known 

 them to be taken by the fishermen on their lines, the hooks 



