ceed 6-7 per cent, whereas by the end of June - early July it increases considerably reaching 10-12 

 per cent. Maximum fattiness (18-21 per cent) is observed during the last half of July and in early 

 August. From mid-August, when the gonads begin developing, the fat content gradually decreases. 



300 



WO 



to 



•z: 

 <c 



DC 

 (LP 



/oo 



12 3 t 5 S 7 8 g W ft tZ tS f*» tS 



Figure 5. Curve illustrating the increase in weight of Atlantic-Scandinavian herring. 



The maximum fattiness of flesh is equal to 25-27 per cent. The amount of albumins in the 

 muscular tissues varies slightly. During the first half of the season, the albumins constitute 16.2- 

 17.5 per cent, during the latter half 16.5 - 17.5 per cent. 



Following the information provided by V. A. Rudakova, during the first half of the season 

 the restoration of herring gonads occurs very slowly, during the second half - very rapidly. In 

 June, the gonads in the majority of herring are at the VII-II stage and do not exceed 3 per cent of 

 the overall weight of the body. The weight of gonads in males and females is identical, constituting 

 2.7 per cent of the total body weight in the former, 2.6 per cent in the latter. 



In July, the II-III stage is prevalent. At that time, the testes increase in size reaching the 

 mean weight of 3.5 per cent. The weight of ovaries remains unchanged. 



Herring gonads begin developing intensely in the latter half of the summer, when their con- 

 tent reaches its maximum index. At that time, the herring at the III, II-III, rarely at the IlI-IV, 

 stages of development prevail. Testes increase in weight particularly rapidly, reaching during 

 that season 8 to 10 p)er cent of the overall weight. TTie weight of ovaries is equal to 5-6 per cent. 

 In September-October, in the majority of herring, the gonads are at the IH-IV and IV stage of 

 development. Gonads constitute 14-16 per cent of body weight in males, 9-10 per cent in females. 



37 



