TAXONOMY
On the biological classification of the herring and the taxonomic can of worms it opens up at species level and below
Rigby’s Encyclopaedia of the Herring
A work in progress with no end in sight
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LOCKMAN’S VAST IMPORTANCE
John Lockman's 1750 pamphlet: the herring's importance to the National Wealth, our Naval Strength and, of course, dealing with the Highlanders
HERRING BUSS (TUNE)
A jig from 1750, The Herring Buss, is found and played for you by the excellent English concertina player Rob Harbron
A-Z Entries
A IS FOR A BEGINNING
On the fossil origins of herring in the Sea of Tethys, on the geographical spread of the Clupeidae and, in particular, our hero Clupea harengus
ARCHAEOLOGY
The earliest kitchen middens archaeological record of herring eating and why no earlier herring bones have been found
BALDIE
On the C19th Scottish origins and naming of the herring drifter known as the Baldie, including a photograph of two at Pittenweem
BALTIC HERRING
On the Baltic herring, Clupea harengus membras, found in the eastern and northern Baltic and in the Gulf of Bothnia
BATTLE OF THE HERRINGS (1429)
On the connection between Sir John Fastolf, victor at the Battle of Herrings, and Sir John Falstaff, a large Shakespearean character
BEUCKEL, Willem
On the semi-mythical C14th Dutch fisherman who may have come up with an improved method of gutting and salting herring
BLACK HERRING
On the ultra smoked and salted herring, a version of red herring, produced more for its preservation qualities than for taste or nutrition
BLOATER
On the original bloater, which may have evolved in the C17th, and the Yarmouth bloater, which was first produced there in 1835
BOHUSLÄN FISHERY
A brief history of the sporadic 'herring periods' on Sweden's Bohuslän coast and whether they're caused by sunspots or food availability
BRITISH FISHERY
An account of early underachievement, overdue triumph and eventual decline in both England and Scotland, featuring kings, economists and fishermen
BRITTEN
On the Lowestoft-born, English composer's creative relationship with herrings, possibly spurious, certainly little commented upon
BUCKLING
On the hot-smoked herring delicacy that is buckling and its spiritual home in the small fishing town of Gudhjem on the Danish island of Bornholm