146 DEPANTMEXr OF THE NATAL SERVICE 



All things considered, these samples must be said to be fairly uniform with regard 

 to growth, and even with the points of difference noted, each separate sample yet 

 presents a type of growth unlike those hitherto observed, and characterized by the 

 high values of all growth dimensions investigated. The same impression is obtained 

 if we collect the really old fish from all samples and consider their growth as it will 

 appear in some tables subsequently. 



The type of growth may be characterized as approaching, with regard to t^ the 

 samples from the southern part of the gulf, while as regards the remaining dimensions, 

 it more resembles the Newfoundland samples. This will be further discussed in the 

 following section. 



5, Samples differing in point of age composition. — It will be seen from the fore- 

 going, that samples resembling one another in point of age composition likewise 

 exhibit resemblance as regards growth. This double likeness is very marked between 

 all samples from Newfoundland save for the single exception, the sample from St. 

 George's bay; strikingly so between this and the one from North Sydney; good between 

 the two from the Magdalen islands and the five from Northumberland strait; and still 

 good, albeit less conspicuous, between the samples from West Ardoise, Lockeport, and 

 west of Port Hood. 



Hitherto, our comparisons have been made between samples which, from their 

 age composition, appeared at first sight as belonging to the same group or tribe, or 

 whatever it may be termed. We may now proceed to make comparisons between the 

 different groups of samples into which the material was provisionally divided. 



The object of this is twofold. In the first place, to carry the analysis of the 

 growth observations a step further, and endeavour to ascertain whether any of the 

 groups set up in the preliminary arrangement can be taken together. This possibility 

 will more especially require investigation in the case of the samples from Magdalen 

 islands and Northumberland strait, the two groups which bear an evident likeness 

 one to the other in point of age composition, and growth. With the sample from 

 North Sydney also (and its companion from St. George's bay) it will be desirable to 

 look into the question of how far combination should be made, for instance, with the 

 sample from West Ardoise and Lockeport, i.e., whether the former may be taken as 

 representing the older fish in the group from which are derived those younger spe- 

 cimens composing the latter; the latter having but recently attained maturity, and 

 having not yet attached themselves to the shoals of the elders. And in the second 

 place, it will be necessary to examine the various groups of samples together, and thus, 

 by pointing out the differences existing in point of growth, to show up more clearly 

 the resemblances already found. Further, to describe the types of growth as far as 

 can be done upon the basis of the resvilts obtained from the previous analysis. 



In this further analysis, which will to a certain extent take the form of an analysis 

 of growth in the different waters, we shall first of all make comparison of the total 

 averages for growth dimensions as calculated on the basis of several similar samples, 

 and in addition,, examine the differences between pairs of single samples, e^ch from its 

 own groups of similar material. This latter method of comparison is more especially 

 intended to show the manner in which examinations of single samples here leads to 

 the same results as obtained by taking several together. A demonstration for instance, 

 of the marked and uniform differences between any of the nine Newfoundland samples 

 and any other, will, by a further test, afford further justification for our regarding 

 these nine samples as representing a distinct growth type. And in a similar manner, 

 the correctness of the remaining group divisions will be tested. 



For the sake of convenience, the nine similar samples from Newfoundland will 

 first be compared with the remainder, then those from the Magdalen islands will be 

 taken, and in like manner compared with the rest, and so on. The comparisons will 

 be illustrated by means of curves for growth and increment. 



The nine similar samples from Newfoundland will now be compared with the 

 remaining niatorial. 



