"red herring"

[davewitley]

Carol wrote:
> 
> I know the origin of the term "red herring" (used for smoked 
herring
> ca. 1420 and for a smoked herring run across a trail by a fugitive 
or
> poacher to confuse the bloodhounds ca. 1880). I'm also aware of the
> use of the term to indicate a logical fallacy (attempting to 
sidetrack
> the reader or listener by avoiding the issue, though I don't have a
> date for that). But I'm wondering if anyone can tell me when the 
term
> was first used for a false clue in a mystery. Is it used in the
> Sherlock Holmes books? If not, can someone with access to the OED 
look
> it up for me?

I'm not sufficiently familiar with the, um, canon, to say whether 
red herrings are mentioned.

However, the OED (New edition) is unhelpful.  It confirms your 
etymology generally but has no mention of when it came into use for 
detective stories specifically.

I recommend you try Sherlock Holmes.  They are short enough that you 
haven't lost much if you try one and don't like it.

David