PLATE LVII. 
slioal of herrings is preceded by one of those fishes, who is there- 
fore denominated by them, the leader, mother, or the queen of 
herrings. Ihisisto all appearance the same fish as Mr. Pennant 
tells us, is taken in great numbers in the Severn, immediately after 
the true Shad leaves that river ; and which the people near Glocester 
call the Twaite. Tnis Mr. Pennant observes, “ differs only from a 
small Shad, in having one or more round black spots on the sides ; 
if only one, it is always near the gill, but commonly there are three 
or four, placed one under the other.” In other respects they per- 
fectly agree, except in size, the T waite weighing from half a pound 
to two pounds at the ulmost, while the true Shad weighs sometimes 
eight pounds, though commonly only from four to five pounds each. 
The mother-herrings we have seen, haye scarcely ever exceeded the 
size of the common herring. 
In England there is nothing peculiar in the fishery of the Shad, 
but in Germany, and other countries on the European continent, 
the mode of capture sometimes pursued in the Shad fisheries, is al- 
together singular. The fishermen in those parts have an idea, that 
the Shad is terrified at storms, and troubled waters, that it loves 
quiet, and is delighted to excess with the sounds of music. They 
therefore seek the most retired parts of the rivers, which the Shad 
frequents, to spread their nets. To those nets they fasten bows of 
wood, to which are suspended a number of little bells, in such a 
manner as to chime in harmony together, whenever the nets are 
moved. The Shad once attracted by the sound to the snare, will 
not, they say, attempt to make their escape, while the bells con- 
tinue to jingle. And even while the fishermen are in the act of 
drawing up the nets, the poor fish lie listening with motionless sur- 
prise to the alluring sounds : their efforts to retreat from the fatal 
