Soused herring is herring soaked in a mild preserving liquid. It can be raw herring in a mild vinegar pickle or Dutch brined herring. As well as vinegar, the marinade might contain cider, wine or tea, sugar, herbs (usually bay leaf), spices (usually mace), chopped onion.The word 'soused' can also describe a marinated herring that has been cooked. The herring can be baked in the marinade or fried and then soaked in it.