3 mild herrings
1 large Spanish onion sliced
1 teaspoon mixed pickling spices
1 lemon, sliced or 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 bay leaves
10 peppercorns or scant 1 teaspoon cracked pepper
1 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Wash herrings, removing head, tail and fins. Soak in cold water to cover for several hours.

Combine spices, lemon, bay leaves, peppercorns with water, vinegar and brown sugar. Bring to boil, set aside to cool.

Slice fish into 1-inch slices. Place in sterilized pickling jar. Add sliced onions and cooled liquid to jar and cover. Shake to mix contents. Set in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Check occasionally to shake and push down onions. Bring up bottom pieces of fish to get top pieces down into liquid.