PERIODS OE ABDNDANOb}. 557 



times by some been considerert as the chief causes of the annual migrations and regular coast 

 visits of the Herrings. Such opinions are, however, no longer entertained, and therefore cannot 

 claim our attention." 



Periodicity of the abundance of Hberings on the European coast. — So far as is 

 known, the abundance of Herrings in the Western Atlantic has been constant during the past two 

 centuries; at the same time so little is our tishing population dependent on the herring fisheries 

 when compared with that of Northern Europe that variations in abundance not being regarded as 

 national disasters would, except, perhaps, in the case of Ifewfoundland, scarcely have been placed 

 definitely upon record. Concerning the periodicity of the herring supply in Northern Europe 

 Professor Baird writes: 



"Among the various problems of interest in Northern Europe there are few of more econom- 

 ical importance than that connected with the movements of the Herring, a fish which in some 

 years furnishes a supply of almost millions of barrels, and in others a few thousand are all that 

 can be secured. While the cod always maintains its numbers and comes with unerring regularity 

 in winter to spawn in the Loffoden Islands, and is found in moderate numbers on the coast 

 throughout the rest of the year, the Herring appears and disappears without any, at present, 

 intelligible cause. This variation in abundance is by some ascribed to a total disappearance from 

 the coast, while others believe that it remains within a hundred miles of the Scandinavian shore, 

 far out in the deep water between the banks of the North Sea and the coast of Norway, but that, 

 owing to some peculiarity of temperature, currents, or possibly tainting of the water by the abun- 

 dance of the so-called gurry, or offal, from the herring and cod fisheries, it is kept away. Down to 

 a late period of the preceding century the Herring appeared in immense numbers with tolerable 

 regularity, then left the coast, and did not return till 1808 — a lapse of twenty years. For sixty- 

 two years after that it presented itself with unfailing certainty, so much so that all fears of a 

 possible diminution were banished; but since 1871 it has almost disappeared from the usual 

 fishing stations, a few thousand barrels being the maximum catch where a million or more was 

 the rule. This is what is known as the spring herring. The so-called 'great' Herring fishery has 

 since 1870 attained a considerable importance at a distance of from five hundred to seven hundred 

 miles from the spring herring locality. This diminution of the spring herring fishery of Scan- 

 dinavia was for a few years of considerable advantage to the American fishery interest." 



The following memoranda, communicated in 1878 by Mr. Joshua Lindahl, will serve to show 

 the periodicity in the movements of the Herring in Europe : 



"Before the sixteenth century no records were kept of the fisheries. As, however, both king 

 and church had some Income from taxation and tithe on the Herring, it has been possible to ascer- 

 tain that such fisheries have existed periodically ever since the beginning of the eleventh century. 

 Before that time the archipelago was hardly inhabited, and the fishing seems not to have been of 

 any importance but to the scanty population on the fiords, who had too primitive implements for 

 capturing large quantities of fish, and no means of preparing the article for a distant market. The 

 following is a list of the herring periods of which we have any knowledge: 



"1. About the year 1020. 



"2. In the latter part of the twelfth century. 



"3. From about 1260 to about 134L, thus lasting more than eighty years. 



" 4. About the middle of the fifteenth century. 



"5. From 1556 to 1690, thus lasting for thirty-five years; interval to next period, sixty- 

 nine years. 



