THE HERRING: NATURAL HISTORY AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. By John M. Mitchell.

1864 1st edition. Ppxii,372. Fold-put colour lithograph frontispiece of a herring, b/w lithograph plates. Grey cloth.

This book had its origin in John Mitchell's essay, "On the Natural History of the Herring, considered in connection with its Visits on the Scottish Coast", for which he won a medal from the Royal Scottish Society of Arts. Mitchell spent many years researching the materials for this book; "In endeavouring to obtain as much information as possible, he has frequently visited the fisheries on the West Coast, the East Coast, Cornwall and the English Channel, and the coasts of Ireland. He has been on board several ofthe Dutch fishing-busses, and went to their headquarters at Vlaerdingen and Maassluis; he visited the shores of the Baltic on both sides, and the shores of the German Ocean [North Sea]; resided for some time in Norway, adn visited the principal fishing districts in that country. As France is possessed of several important fisheries, he visited most of her principal fishing ports from Dieppe to Marseilles, obtaining such information from personal observation as opportunities afforded". The book is divided into three parts, dealing respectively with, (i) the natural history of the herring, (ii) the different modes of fishing and curing at home and abroad, (iii) the progress of the herring fishery from the earliest period to the present day as illustrative of its national importance. Astonishingly thorough - fishing techniques for instance, are dealt with port by port. Also included are interviews with men from the industry, as well as material from parliamentary commitees.