THE HERRING FISHERY. 
49 
The vertebral column of the herring consists of a variable 
number of vertebrae, generally 56 to 58. For the shad Day 
records 55 to 56 vertebrae, Dr. Gunther, 56 ; ribs, 36. The 
vertebrae of the pilchard number about 52 (Day gives 50 ; 
Gunther, 53; Lowe, 50 to 51), with 32 ribs. In the sprat 
the vertebral column consists of only 48 vertebrae, and the ribs 
number 28 in all. 
The vomer in the sprat has a short central ridge on it, but 
no teeth; whilst on the vomer of the herring there is an 
ovate patch of teeth : this, taken in consideration with the 
difference in the number of vertebrae, and the number of the 
ribs, may be considered sufficient to prove satisfactorily that 
the sprat is not the young of the herring, as has often been 
thought. 
In very early times fishing for herrings was practised by the 
dwellers on our shores, especially on the east coast. The Eomans 
considered the herring a very dainty dish. In the records of 
the Abbey of Evesham, founded early in the eighth century, 
there are several references to the Herring Fishery, which shows 
conclusively that herrings in those days were widely used and 
much valued. As Evesham is situated in the midland county 
of Worcestershire, it is only reasonable to suppose that these fish 
were obtained from Yarmouth. A notice in Domesday too goes 
to prove that its Herring Fishery made Yarmouth so important a 
place. 
The fishery continued to increase at Yarmouth, and became 
so extensive that, in the reign of William II., William Herbert de 
Losinga, bishop of Norwich, built upon the sand there a chapel, 
and placed therein a godly minister, whose duty it was to say 
divine service, and to pray for the health and success of the 
fishermen that came to fish in the herring season. Henry I., 
in 1109, appointed a provost to collect the king's customs at 
Yarmouth, owing to the great concourse of fishermen, traders, 
and merchants from every part of England and Flanders and 
Normandy. In 1199 Dunwich was erected into a free burgh, 
on payment amongst other items of an annual tax of 2400 
herrings. 
Salt in curing herrings must have been early used, or they 
could not have been widely distributed. So far back as 1041 
there existed at Gorleston, at the entrance to the Yare, next 
vol. x. E 
