rro THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR.—Along the Canadian sea-board,
the expression "a school of mackerel" is as invariably used as "a shoal of herring." I speak from experience, baying seen a village depopulated, its church and chapels deserted, and Churchmen and Dissenters burying their differences, and hurrying off to welcome to shore some "school" which chose Sunday evening for visiting and filling the bay.
I don't think "school" and " shoal " are different forms of the same word. Herrings are always described by the word "shoal," and probably because they swim much nearer the surface than other bodies of fish, and present the appearance of a shoal or sand-bank. I believe some of the alleged sea-serpents are only " shoals " of migrating herrings swimming very near the surface, to escape dog-fish and other enemies.-1 am, Sir, &c.,
B. G. JENKINS.
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