ORKNEY AND SHETLAND ISLES. 153 



beyond doubt. He conceives that some place not far dis- 

 tant from the island of Unst may be their rendezvous or 

 grazing.ground, (if we may be allowed the expression) : — - 

 that during the harvest and winter they keep near the 

 bottom, where they feed and grow to maturity ; that in the 

 spring they collect, rise to the surface, and begin to move 

 off in various directions to the southward, for the purpose 

 of spawning. 



As already remarked, they do not deposit their spawn — ^."^ deposit 

 near the shore, but in the middle of the lochs or bays, or near th'e in?d- 

 on the banks which are generally to be found at the mouths die of bays. 

 of the lochs. If, however, they are frightened from the 

 spawning ground, they fly towards the shores, and are then 

 full of roe ; but they soon retire again, and do not return 

 till freed from their load. They then range along the 

 shores for some time, and at last retire towards the north, 

 following the fry of the former years. 



It may be proper to add, that it is frequently observed 

 on the western coast of Scotland, that a few weeks after the 

 first shoal has left the lochs, a second shoal enters them, 

 in full roe. This second shoal appears in the end of Oc- 

 tober or beginning of November: they deposit their spawn 

 and leave the lochs as before. It is possible that the fry 

 which leaves the coast in the beginning of May, may be the 

 same that returns to it next year about the same period, 

 and that these may proceed from the spawn deposited in the 

 latter end of the season ; while the fry of the June spawn 

 having got oft' before the winter commenced, may return 

 the following November ; — thus allowing, from the deposit, 

 ing of the roc, to the inaturify of the herring, eighteen 

 months. 



Vol. XVI.— Feb. 1807. 



