THE VARIATION, RACES AND MIGRATIONS OF THE MACKEREL. 277 



It would be difticult to find a more convincing demonstration than 

 this table affords as to the existence of local races of the common 

 mackerel; and when it is remembered that the variation in the number 

 of transverse bars led to a precisely similar grouping of the local 

 consignments (p. 255), there can remain, I think, no doubt as to the 

 general accuracy of the conclusions which are drawn in this report 

 concerning the races of the mackerel. 



The contrast between the Irish and Enolish races of mackerel is 

 sufficiently clear from the figures in the table, but it becomes still more 

 distinct if we contrast the English race with the West coast stock 

 of the Irish race, since the Kinsale fish occupy an intermediate position 

 between the Kerry fish and the English race in respect of both 

 characters. The following are the distinctive characters of the two 

 stocks of the Irish race : — 



Kinsale 

 Kerry . 



In respect both of spottiness and number of finrays, the Kinsale 

 stock approaches the Channel race more closely than it does the Kerry 

 stock, although intermediate between the two. In respect of the 

 number of transverse bars it also holds an intermediate position, as 

 already shown, but comes nearer the Kerry stock than the Channel 

 race. The facts, therefore, demand the subdivision of the Irish race 

 into West coast and South coast stocks. 



On the other hand, it can be seen from the data already provided 

 that no similar differences separate the North Sea from the Plymouth 

 fish, the racial identity of which must accordingly be regarded as 

 absolute. 



The combined Brest and Scilly data approximate throughout to those 

 for the North Sea and Channel, although they show a slight approach 

 under each character towards tlie Irish, and particularly the Kinsale, 

 values. In regard to the number of transverse bars, the high average 

 of the Brest and Scilly fish shown in Table C would also appear to 

 indicate an incipient racial divergence between the fish of the 

 Channel proper and those which in summer haunt the mouth of the 

 Channel west of a line from Mounts Bay to Brittany. 



If this is so, it is a matter of the greatest importance, since it would 

 necessitate the conclusion that the winter quarters of the North Sea 

 and Channel fish are to be found in the Channel itself, and not to the 

 west of it. This conclusion is by no means improbable, and would 

 harmonize well with the peculiarities of the Plymouth winter fishery ; 

 but I cannot regard the evidence of the relatively small samples of 



