The herring lays its eggs on the rocks at the bottom of the sea. The eggs are then called "spawn. " In a few weeks a little herring comes out of each egg. Many other fishes eat the spawn, or the sea would soon be full ofherrings.
鲱鱼在海底的礁石上产卵, 产的卵叫“卵块”。过了几个星期, 每个卵里面就会钻出一条小鲱鱼。还有很多其他的鱼会把卵块吃掉, 不然, 海里很快就到处是鲱鱼了。
Have you ever thought how wet the fishes must feel in the sea? Perhaps you do not know that the water does not wet them at all; for their bodies are covered with a sort of slimy oil, which comes out from between the scales. This oil makes the fish very slippery, so that it is better able to swim quickly through the water.
小朋友, 你想过没有, 鱼在海水里感觉会多么湿啊? 大概你不知道, 海水一点也不会把鱼的身体弄湿！因为鱼的身体盖着一种非常滑的油, 这种油是鳞片中间分泌出来的, 让鱼的身体特别滑溜, 这样, 鱼就可以在水里飞快地游动。
Herrings are caught in long nets, called drift-nets. Great numbers of these fish are caught every year for food. So many herrings are caught that they cannot all be eaten while they are fresh. Many of them are put into salt to keep them good. These are called "salt herrings.
鲱鱼是用一种长长的网捕捞上来的, 这种网叫做“漂网”。每年人们都要捕捞很多鲱鱼作为食物, 而且鲜鱼捕捞得非常多, 吃不完, 很多都用盐腌了起来, 这样方便保存。这些鱼就叫“咸鱼”。
Some of the herrings are hung up to dry in houses where a wood fire is kept burning. The smoke of the wood turns them brown and gives them a strong taste. These are called "bloaters" and "red herrings. "
有些鲱鱼, 挂到生着柴火的屋子里晾干。柴火的烟把鱼熏成了棕色, 吃起来有一种很强烈的味道。这些鱼就叫“熏鱼”或者“红鲱鱼”。
When you go home, do not forget to tell your father and your mother all that you have read about the herring.
小朋友, 你回家的时候, 别忘了告诉爸爸妈妈, 今天你学到的鲱鱼的知识。