What are young herring called?

Young herring are known as "brit." As the larvae metamorphose into the juvenile brit, their scales deepen and flatten, and they are no longer transparent as they begin to resemble a miniature version of the adult fish.

From their earliest stage, the silvery, blue-green brit form schools and migrate towards the shore, heading to the surface of the water at night to feed on zooplankton. Since they are a major food source of many predators, they are commonly found hiding under docks and piers. In colder months, the young herring head into deeper waters and spend their time close to the bottom.