[Illustration: Herring Attacked by Whale.]
As this Fish is so commonly known in all parts of the world, it would
not seem necessary to give it special mention or description, except for
the fact of its congregating in such wonderful “schools” at various
seasons, and the fact that it forms the principal food of the Whale
family. Because of the great quantities in which it is captured in
certain parts of the Old World, it has been called the most important of
all Fishes for mankind, and the old Hollanders used to say that the
Herring fishery was the greater and the Whale fishery the least.
The Herring banks or schools are separated into two groups—the high sea
and the coast schools. In each, the Fish are found in unbelievable
masses; they extend over a vast space, and in some instances it is
claimed that in these great schools the Fish swam so thick that an oar
pushed into the midst, did not fall, but remained standing.
It has been stated that about thirty years ago, when one of these great
schools were passing, the fishermen of Lowestoft, a coast city of about
fifteen thousand inhabitants, in the English county of Suffolk, caught
in two days around twenty-two millions of Herring, only a small part of
which could be preserved. Neither people, nor casks, nor salt enough
were at hand, and the greater part of these Herring were used for
fertilizer.
The markings of the Herring are very peculiar in some instances, and
have lead to curious superstitions. The back of the Fish is green during
life, but after death it becomes an indigo blue color. Other parts vary
in their color and markings, sometimes representing written characters,
which ignorant fishermen have considered to be words of mystery.
In November, 1587, two Herrings were taken on the coast of Norway on the
bodies of which were markings representing Gothic printed characters.
These Herrings had the signal honor of being presented to the King of
Norway, Frederick II. This superstitious prince turned pale at sight of
this supposed prodigy. On the back of these innocent inhabitants of the
deep he saw certain cabalistic characters, which he thought announced
his death and that of his queen. Learned men were consulted. Their
science, as reported, enabled them to read distinctly words expressing
the sentiment, “Very soon you will cease to fish Herrings, as well as
other people.” Other savants were assembled who gave another
explanation; but in 1588 the king died, and the people were firmly
convinced that the two Herrings were celestial messengers charged to
announce to the Norwegian people the approaching end of the monarch.
This Fish abounds throughout the entire Northern Ocean in immense
shoals, which are found in the bays of Greenland, Lapland, and round the
whole coast of the British islands. Great shoals of them also occupy the
gulfs of Sweden, of Norway and of Denmark.
It was the favorite theory, not very long ago, that Herrings emigrated
to and from the arctic regions. It was asserted, by the supporters of
this theory, that in the inaccessible seas of high northern latitudes
Herring existed in overwhelming numbers, an open sea within the arctic
circle affording a safe and bounteous feeding-ground. At the proper
season vast bodies gathered themselves together into one great army,
which, in numbers exceeding the powers of imagination, departed for more
southern regions.
This great Herr, or army, was sub-divided, by some instinct, as they
reached the different shores, led, according to the ideas of fishermen,
by Herring of more than ordinary size and sagacity, one division taking
the west side of Britain, while another took the east side, the result
being an adequate and well divided supply of Herrings, which penetrated
every bay and arm of the sea.
Closer observation, however, shows that this theory has no existence in
fact. Lacepede denies that those periodical journeyings take place.
Valenciennes also rejects them. It is true that the Herrings have
disappeared in certain neighborhoods in which they were formerly very
plentiful; but it is also certain that, in many of the fishing stations,
Fish are taken all the year round. Moreover, the discovery that the
Herring of America is a distinct species from that of Europe, and that
they do not even spawn in the same waters, is fatal to the theory. In
short, there is a total absence of proof of their migrations to high
northern latitudes, and recent discoveries all tend to show that the
Herring is native to the shores on which it is taken.
What seems most surprising is the fact that these harmless little
Fishes, which live largely on small crustaceans and small Fishes just
hatched, should continue to thrive in such marvellous numbers, when its
enemies are the most formidable inhabitants of the ocean. All the
different members of the Whale family destroy them by the thousands, and
our illustration on Page 247, where the Sword-Whales are feasting on one
of the great shoals of Herring, gives a limited idea of the great
quantities devoured by these great Fish. Then we must take into
consideration that man, on the other hand, carries on a war which
threatens to be one of extermination. In fact, the Herring fishery has
been to certain nations, the great cause of their prosperity. It was the
foundation of Dutch independence. But in spite of this continual war
against them, the Herrings continue to thrive and increase, and they are
well worthy of the place they have long held as one of the greatest
friends and helpers of mankind that has been found in the animal kingdom
of the great deep.