The term 'Herring Kin' refers to two species of fish that are closely related, the ALEWIFE (7 letters) and the SHAD (4 letters). Alewives are anadromous fish, meaning they migrate from salt water to fresh water to spawn. They are found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. SHAD are also anadromous fish, found in the Atlantic Ocean, and are popularly used for food. Both alewives and SHAD are members of the herring family, hence the term 'Herring Kin'.