Class IV. COMMON HERRING. 451 



compressed; the belly sharply carinated, but 

 the ridge quite smooth, and not in the least ser- 

 rated ; the scales are large, thin, and fall off 

 with a slight touch. The color of the back and 

 sides green, varied with blue ; the belly sil- 

 very. 



The herring fishery is of great antiquity : the Fishery. 

 industrious Dutch first engaged in it about the 

 year 1164: they were in possession of it for 

 several centuries, but at length its value became 

 so justly known, that it gave rise to most obsti- 

 nate and well-disputed wars between the Eng- 

 lish and them ; but still their diligence and skill 

 gives them a superiority over us in that branch 

 of trade. 



Our great stations are off the Shetland and 

 Western Isles, and off the coast of Norfolk, in 

 which the Dutch also share. Yarmouth has long 

 been famous for its herring fair;* that town 

 is obliged, by its charter, to send to the sheriffs 

 of Norwich, one hundred herrings, to be made 

 into twenty-four pies, by them to be delivered 

 to the lord of the manor of East Carleton, who 

 is to convey them to the king.f The facetious 

 Doctor Fuller % takes notice of the great repute 



* This fair was regulated by an act, commonly called the 

 Statute of Herrings, in the 31st year of Edward III. 



f Camden Britan. i. 458. § British Worthies, 238. 



2 g 2 



