herring

Any of various marine fishes belonging to the herring family, but especially the important food fish Clupea harengus. A silvered greenish blue, it swims close to the surface, and may be 25-40 cm/10-16 in long. Herring travel in schools several kilometres long and wide. They are found in large quantities off the east coast of North America, and the shores of northeastern Europe. Overfishing and pollution have reduced their numbers. (Family Clupeidae.)