the herring?. 
27S 
they have at different times occupied and deferted their 
feveral Rations, without any apparent caufe. But al- 
though this llupenduous gift of the munificent Author 
of Nature, is at times partially diftributed, it is never 
totally withdrawn. The fame inftinct invariably ope- 
rates ; and if one part is deprived of its effb&s, another 
teems with plenty, and relieves the neceflity of fuch as 
are lefs liberally fupplied : Thus, thoufands of the poor 
are annually fupported, and rendered happy, by that in- 
ftimSt which the Almighty hath originally impreffed upon 
this ufeful part of his creatures *. 
But this appetite for migration, which brings the her- 
ring annually to our fhores, ferves alto purpofes of the 
greatefl importance in the economy of thefe animals : It 
leads them to the fhaliow and tepid waters of the tempe- 
rate zone, to depofit their fpawn, where it is matured 
and vivified with greater certainty than in the midit of 
the frozen ocean. 
The multiplication of their kind, is, therefore, perhaps 
the primary purpofe of nature in the migration of the 
herring. It is not from a defect of food that they aban- 
don regularly their northern retreats ; for it is immedi- 
ately alter leaving thefe, that they are moft plump : be- 
fore their return, they are greatly reduced by fpawning, 
and are then thin and miferable. The time of fpawning 
is from the beginning of winter till January, when they 
almoft totally difappear from our coafts, or are taken in 
fmail flragglmg parties by the fifliermen, for the purpofe 
of bait. It is probable, that at the time they abandon 
pur feas, they again repair to the north, to reflore their 
vigour, 
J 3 rit. Zoology, Gen. 39. 
