CLUPEA, the herring, in natural histo ry, a genus of fishes of the order Abdo minales. Generic character : head com pressed; mouth compressed and inter nally rough ; jaws unequal ; tongue short and rough ; with inverted teeth ; side. plates of the upper mandible serrated ; gill-membrane eight-rayed ; gills setace ous internally; abdomen sharp, and-gene rally serrated ; body compressed, elon gated, and covered with moderate scales ; ventral fins often nine-rayed ; tail forked. There are fifteen species, according to Gmelin, and according to Shaw, nineteen; of which the most deserving of notice arc, C. harengus, or the common herring.
This fish does not appear to have been known by the Greeks and Romans, or at least to have attracted from them any particular attention. In modern times it constitutes an important article of com merce, and the herring fishery has for ages been considered as an important field for national industry, and a source of national wealth. Even in the twelfth century the Dutch were much occupied in taking herrings, and preserved a sort of monopoly on this subject for several ages. The art of pickling them was discovered in Flanders. The Dutch are uncommonly partial to the pickled her ring, and on the arrival of the first ves sel in port, laden with this article, resort to it with all the ardour of impatience and competition. This first vessel also is enti tled to a considerable premium. The term "herring is derived from a German word, meaning an army, and well express es the immense multitude of this fish, which, after wintering within the arctic seas, where insect food abounds fully to the extent of their immense demand's, direct their course in spring towards the south. In April they are generally seen off the isles of Shetland, and their pro gress is marked by the flocks of birds which accompany them, and prey upon them. There are, in general, several columns of this mighty host, extending about five miles in length and three in breadth, and reflecting, by their advance to the very surface of the water, that pearly lustre and lively variety of colour, which, in clear weather, give to the spec tacle extraordinary interest From the isles of Shetland they divide to the east ern and western shores of Great Britain ; in the former case passing through the English Channel, after visiting every gulf and creek within its limits; in the latter, visiting the coast of Ireland, and furnish. ingthe inhabitants with a cheap and valu able article of subsistence. Some natu ralists, however, have doubted of the ex tensive migrations ascribed to the her ring, and consider the time allotted for its accomplishment as totally inadequate for this purpose. They suppose them in
winter to shelter themselves in the pro found retreats of the ocean, and amidst its soft and muddy bottoms, near those very shores, in their approach to which they are first seen in spring. The food of the herring consists chiefly of sea in sects and worms, and itself becomes food, not only, as before intimated, to various birds, who follow their track with unceas ing vigilance and voracity, but to innu merable fishes also : of these the whale is its most formidable enemy, and thins its columns with the most destructive and consuming havock.
The C. pilchardus, or the pilchard. This is somewhat smaller than the last ; its scales also are larger; and its body is thicker, rounder, and more oily. It abounds in the summer months on the coast of Cornwall ; and in the port of St. Ives nearly two hundred and fifty mil lions were once enclosed by a single draught. The supply of this fish being very frequently far superior to any regu lar demand, it has in some cases been em ployed merely as manure, for which it is found admirably applicable.
C. alosa, or shad. This is considerably like the pilchard; but is larger and thin ner; distinguishable particularly by the • scales upon its belly, which form a sharp keel along it. It is found in the Medi terranean and in the Baltic, and ascends rivers periodically to deposit its spawn, which it always does in the deepest parts. The longer it continues in fresh water, the fatter it becomes ; it feeds principally on insects and young fish, and can live but a few moments after being taken from the water. It is little valued for the table, being coarse and tasteless. It is found in the rivers of England, and principally in the Severn.
C. sprattus, or sprat, resembles the her ring, and might easily be taken for its young. There are, however, decided differences. During the winter months sprats are caught in abundance in the Thames, and are a very valuable resource for the poor inhabitants of the metropo lis. In some places they are pickled With great advantage ; in others they are cured like the herring, and are scarcely less relished.
C. encrasicolus, or anchovy. This was well known to the ancients, who prepar ed from it a sauce in high estimation. Its bones are soluble in boiling water, which renders it of great convenience in condi mental preparations.