Separa- 
tion, 
s 
286 H E RR Aw, & Clafs IV. 
again to the furface, and in bright weather reflect a 
variety of fplendid colors, like a field of the moft 
pretious gems, in which, or rather in a much more 
valuable light, fhould this ftupendous gift of Pro- 
vidence be confidered by the inhabitants of the Bri- 
tifh illes. 
The firft check this army meets in its march fouth- 
ward, is from the Shetland ifles, which divide it in- 
to two parts; one wing takes to the eaft, the other to 
the weftern fhores of Great-Britain, and fill every 
bay and creek with their numbers; others pafs on 
towards Yarmouch, the great and antient mart of 
herrings; they then pafs thro’ the Britz/b channel, 
and after that ina manner difappear. Thofe which 
take to the weft, after offering themfelves to the He- 
brides, where the great {tationary fifhery is, proceed 
towards the north of Ireland, where they meet with 
a fecond interruption, and are obliged to make a fe- 
cond divifion; the one takes to the weftern fide, 
and is fearce perceived, being foon loft in the im- 
menfity of the Atlantic; but the other, which paffes 
into the Jri/h fea, rejoices and feeds the inhabi- 
tants of moft of the coafts that border on it. 
Thefe brigades, as we may call them, which are 
thus feparated from the greater columns, are often ~ 
capricious in their motions, and do not fhew an in- 
variable attachment to their haunts. We have had 
in our time inftances of their entirely quitting the 
coafts of Cardiganfbire, and vifiting thofe of Caer- 
narvonfhire and Flintfbire, where they continued for 
a few years, but in the prefent year have quite de- 
ferted our fea, and returned to their oid feats. The 
feafon 
