THE HERRING. 
279 
■vigour, and, by impregnation, to replace that immenfe 
wafte, which the exertions of man, and the rapacity of 
fifbes, has made of their fpccie 3 . 
The fpawn, after being difcharged by the parent fiflies 3 
continues to float on the waves for a confiderable part of 
the Spring. In the beginning of Summer, the young 
enter upon life, and in June and July are feen in vafl 
numbers approaching the ihores. They are then about 
two inches in length, and moll probably feed upon in- 
fers, aS thoufands have been caught a little after that 
period with the common trout fly. Along the 2 orkjhire 
coaft, thefe young filh are called file ; upon that of Scot- 
land, they obtain the general name of fry, which feems 
to be applied indifcriminately to the young of all fifli. 
During winter, it is probable that the young herring re- 
tire to the north, along with the old. On their appear- 
ance next fummer, although the fhoals are made up of 
fifh of very different fiz.es, it does not appear that they 
are then diftinguifhable from the filh of greater age. 
The Dutch, who have fet the example to the other na- 
tions in almoft every thing relating to commercial in- 
duftry, firft commenced the herring fifhery in 1x64*; 
and continued in the excluflve poffeflion of it for feveral 
centuries. At length the Englijh , roufed by their gains, 
and jealous of that naval power of which it was the grand 
fource, endeavoured to participate in this lucrative com- 
merce, and for that purpol'e fought many well difputed 
battles. The fuperior indufliy and experience of the 
Butch, always have, and probably long will, fecure them 
the greatell fhare of this trade. The molt confiderable 
ftations of the Britijh fiiheries are off the Shetland and 
Wejiem 
* Hrit. 7.0P- Gen 39 , 
