This informative herring aid from WWII makes no bones about the need to make the most of every fish

Herrings have been the backbone of many a fishing industry for thousands of years - despite their own back and side bones being somewhat tricky to handle. While their fiddly preparation and pungent presence might not make them everyone's first choice, life on the home front offered far fewer options when it came to mealtimes.

The Cookery Hints series from the Ministry of Food offered basic advice on familiar ingredients - with a particular emphasis on economy in straitened times.

A cookery hint film on how to cook, bone and serve herring.