TRADE IN HERRINGS The United Kingdom does a very large export trade in herrings. In the years 1913 and 19 2 5-2 7, the following quantities of the fish were exported (values are given f.o.b. British ports) : The approximate value in sterling of these herrings was or 33% of the total yield of the North sea fisheries.
In western European seas, herrings spawn at all seasons. The Norwegian herrings spawn along the west coast in spring, and during this time also, spawning herrings occur near the Firth of Forth, off Cape Wrath, the Hebrides, and in the Skagerrak.
From August to October spawn ing takes place off the north and east of Scotland, and at various places from Northumberland to the Wash on the English east coast. Winter spawning grounds are found near the Sandettie Light Vessel and the Gabbards shoal in December; off Cap d'Antifer in the eastern part of the English channel, and along the Devon and Cornish coasts in January and February. In the Baltic sea there is both a spring and an autumn spawning.
Herrings deposit their eggs in masses on the sea bottom, on stones, weeds, rocks, and gravel, where they are fertilised. On hatching the larvae are carried from the spawning grounds by winds and currents to various coasts, where they appear as It will be observed that the exports have fallen greatly since the World War. That is because the Russian trade has almost ceased. In 1913 Russia took 3,566,000cwt. and in 1927 only 155,000cwt. The principal importers in 1927 were Poland, 1,492,000cwt. and Germany 1,995,000cwt. In North America the fishery is grow ing and may ultimately reach great magnitude, although at present it is not to be compared with the importance of the fishery in Europe. The annual haul in British Columbia is about 250,000. Although found as far south as North Carolina, the herring has only commercial importance north of Cape Cod.
(See FIsH-CURING.)