FISHES. 59r 
deduced, from a consideration of the annual takes of many years, 
that the herring exists in distinct races, which arrive at maturity 
month after month. It is well known that the herrings taken at 
Wick in July are quite different from those caught at Dunbar in 
August and September; indeed, I would go further, and say that 
even at Wick each month has its changing shoal, and that as one 
race appears for capture another disappears, having fulfilled its 
mission. It is certain that the herrings of these different seasons 
vary considerably in size and appearance ; localities are marked by 
distinctive features. Thus, the well-known Loch Fyne herring is 
essentially different from that of the Firth of Forth; and those 
differ again, in many particulars, from those caught off Yarmouth. 
In fact, the herring never ventures far from the shore where it is 
taken ; and its condition, when it is caught, is just an index of the 
feeding it has enjoyed in its particular locality. The superiority of 
flavour of the herring taken in our great land-locked salt-water lochs 
is undoubted. Whether or not resulting from the depth and body of 
water, from more plentiful marine vegetation, or from the greater 
variety of land food likely to be washed into these inland seas, has 
not yet been determined, but it is certain that the herrings of our 
western sea-lochs are infinitely superior to those captured in the more 
open sea.” “Moreover,” he adds, “it is now known, from the 
inquiries of the late Mr. Mitchell and other authorities on the 
geographical distribution of the herring, that the fish has never 
been noticed as being at all abundant in the arctic regions.” 
The herring feeds on small crustaceans, fishes just hatched, and 
even on the fry of its own species. Its enemies are among the most 
formidable inhabitants of the ocean; the whales destroy them by 
thousands, but man, above all, carries on a war which almost 
threatens to be one of extermination. The herring-fishery has been 
to certain nations the great cause of their prosperity. It was the 
foundation of Dutch independence. Silk manufacture, coffee, tea, 
spices, which are productive of great commercial movements, address 
themselves only to the wants of luxury or fashion; the produce of 
the herring-fishery, on the contrary, is one of necessity to the people; 
and Holland would have languished and quickly disappeared, with its 
sinking territory, if the sea had not added to its commercial industry 
this inexhaustible mine of wealth. That vast field it has worked with 
persevering ardour. Struggling for an existence, it has conquered. 
Every year numerous vessels leave the coast of Holland for this pre- 
cious marine harvest. ‘The herring fishery is, for the Dutch people, 
the most important of maritime expeditions. It is with them known 
