LECTURE  NOTES ON THE  HERRING

FOREWORD

THE subjoined lecture notes on the herring and the herring industry
have been furnished in a partially connected form with a view to
assisting those desirous of giving instruction on this subject to either
juveniles or adults.

The wording has been rendered as simple as possible and it has been
left to the discretion of the lecturer or instructor to make such alterations
in phraseology or such additions in respect of local colour as may be deemed
necessary to make the discourse suitable to the mentality of the audience
addressed.

THE FISH THAT HAS MADE HISTORY

Most of us are familiar with the old song that runs thus:—

"Ye gentlemen of England, who sit at home at ease,
Oh little do you think upon the dangers of the seas ! "

The words hold a hint of reproof in them. They remind us that proud
as we may be of belonging to a sea-faring race, most of us know surprisingly
little of the lives of those "whose business is in deep waters." We take
our great fishing industry for granted. We have grown so accustomed to
seeing ample supplies on the fishmongers' slabs that we rarely spare a thought
for the perils that are faced and the hardships that are endured in order
to keep us supplied with what may well be called "Nature's health food."

Yet our fishing industry is a national asset of which we may well be
proud. There are many other nations who would be only too glad to have
such a plentiful supply of health-giving food. The pity is that we do not
make more use of it than is the case at the present time.

"Of all the fish that swim the sea" runs an old saying, "the Herring
is the King." Certainly if food value be considered it fully justifies the
title.