scoop-net. 



The larvae caught in the region of Iceland in May and June, during the research conducted 

 by Schmidt and TSning, must also be attributed to the spring hatching. 



In 1903, we caught in three stations 25 larvae, 15 to 25 mm. in length; in 1904, we caught 

 In 9 stations 53 larvae 15 to 25 mm. in length; in 1905, in 5 stations - 56 larvae, 15 to 25 mm.; in 

 1924, In 5 stations - 8 larvae, 10 to 15 mm.; in 1934, in 6 stations - 13 larvae, 10 to 25 mm. 



In 1904, the research was conducted most thorougjily, and Schmidt foimd larvae less than 

 10 mm . in length along the entire extension of the southern and south-western coast of Iceland, 

 within the borders of the continental shelf, at the depth of 35 to 102 meters. A particularly great 

 number of larvae were found at the stations No. 17 (63°25' of northern latitude and 18°00' of 

 western longitude), and No. 18 (63°26' of northern latitude and 20°11' of western longitude), at the 

 depah of 102 and 50 meters. The boat "Filla" found herring larvae in approximately the same 

 region between April 18 and 20, 1925. In May and June the larvae of herring 10 to 25 mm. in length 

 (of spring origin) were foimd along the southern and western shores of Iceland. 



Thus, the theory that herring spawn in the spring off the southern coast of Iceland has been 

 recently confirmed by the discovery of eggs developing in this area on the bottom and found in the 

 stomachs of haddock, as well as In the catches of the earliest stages of recently hatched herring 

 larvae. 



Soviet research was developed in this region by the Polar Institute in 1934, i.e., prior to 

 the publication of the work by Runnstrom . Unfortunately, the results of these investigations 

 appeared in print only in 1938 (22, 23). More detailed study of herring reproduction in this area 

 was carried out by the Polar Institute in 1938 (14, 15). Investigations continued after World War U. 



In 1949, the expedition on board the "Persey-U" thorougjily explored the outer slopes of 

 Lofoten shelf from S^r^^y to Rjist. Freshly hatched larvae were found along the slope between Rj^st 

 and Andj^y . 



At present, as a resiilt of the Investigations carried out by the Polar Institute In 1938 and 

 1939 (14), and on the basis of observations set up at the end of the Second World War, we may con- 

 sider it as an established fact that herring reproduce in the region of Lofoten shelf to the souA of 

 And^y. North-east from this island, herring spawning was observed in 1939 on Malangen Bank and 

 In the region of Svengrund, though on a rather small scale. Herring eggs were frequently foimd in 

 the region of Lofoten Islands in the stomachs of haddock. 



The most intensive spawning in this region occurs at depths over 150 meters, within the 

 limits of the 172 to 225-meter depths . We foimd no larvae in the early stages of development 

 eastward from S^r j<y . 



Marti (15) and Tlkhonov (30) beUeved at the beginning of their research that herring may re- 

 produce in the North Cape and Nordkyn Banks, while Professor Rass (21) thought it probable that 

 herring reproduce in the gulfs and bays of Kola Peninsula . These suppositions were subsequently 

 refuted. Throughout the entire period of research (i.e., the years 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1949), the 

 Barents Sea remained at its highest temperature level in 50 years; and, consequently, the spawn- 

 ing regions as established for these particular years must be considered as correct. 



There is no herring spawning either In the Barents Sea nor in the region of Bear Island and 

 adjacent banks . At first, it seemed plausible that in the Lofoten Islands region the herring should 



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