Fis/ies of the Western North Atlantic 279 



Young fish from the Clyde Sea area of England lost their yolksac and began 

 developing the dorsal fin at about 10 mm; the end of the notochord turned up at about 

 17 mm; pelvic fins appeared at about 22 mm; the caecal part of the stomach began to 

 form and the air bladder became prominent at a length of 30—35 mm; and the least 

 length at which metamorphosis took place was 42 mm (pj: 248, 252). Marshall, et al. 

 also recorded a regular weekly increase of 3 mm prior to metamorphosis, at a length of 

 about 35—40 mm. This rate of growth of the larvae is in fair agreement with that 

 reported for elsewhere in Europe. 



Huntsman observed that, on the American coast, as at Grand Manan Island, 

 New Brunswick, larvae hatched In late summer and early autumn had attained a length 

 of 17— 20 mm by the end of November or early in December. Fry 50-60 mm long 

 were abundant in St. Andrews Bay in June. Yearlings were 90—125 mm long in the 

 fall of the year in the Bay of Fundy. This rate of growth is in agreement with that ob- 

 served by European investigators in examples from Norwegian waters and from the 

 North Sea. A one-year old Atlantic Herring, then, is about 88—125 mm long. 



These fish do not fall into definite size groups when more than one year old. But 

 their subsequent rate of growth may be determined by segregating the fish into year- 

 classes through scale reading, for the so-called winter rings are so pronounced that they 

 can be relied upon with considerable confidence to show the age of the individual 

 specimen. 1° Thus, Meek (pj: 76) has indicated the following average lengths for those 

 caught on the Dogger Banks in the North Sea: 98 mm at one year, 183 at two, 220 at 

 three, 241 at four, 255 at five, 266 at six, 275 at seven, 281 at eight, 287 at nine, 291 

 at ten, 293 at eleven, and 295 mm at twelve years of age. The Norwegian fish spawned 

 in 1899 grew more slowly at first than the Dogger Bank fish but about equaled the 

 latter in size by their sixth year. Fish up to 19 years old have been found in many 

 Canadian samples {83: 10) and some 20 years of age have been seen in Europe. How- 

 ever, the rate of growth after age 1 1 is extremely slow. According to observations by 

 Huntsman and by Lea, the rate of growth is about the same for Atlantic Herring both 

 here and in Europe, with Bay of Fundy fish growing a little faster than those spawned 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and with the fish spawned along the outer coast of Nova 

 Scotia growing a little faster than those produced in the Bay of Fundy. 



On the coast of Maine, some individuals reach sexual maturity at a length of about 

 235 mm (9.5 in.), when three or four years old. Usually they do not spawn until they 

 are 250—262 mm (10— 10.5 in.) long, at five to six years of age. Most of the individuals 

 in the schools of spawning fish are 300-325 mm (12-13 i"0 ^^"gj '^e majority of 

 which is then perhaps 10 years of age or more. It is believed that Atlantic Herring, 

 after reaching sexual maturity, spawn every year as long as they live. 



Atlantic Herring may be divided roughly into three growth stages," each with its 



10. For a detailed study of the scale of the Atlantic Herring in relation to growth, see Lea (75:81-93). 



11. Sometimes a greater number of growth stages has been recognized. Thus, Johnson (69:351), following the nomen- 

 clature of the fishermen of Passamaquoddy Bay, listed "brit" 80-100 mm, "snippers" no-i3omm, "oils" 140- 

 180 mm, and "mustards" 190-230 mm. In New England at least, the term "sperling" is used for young fish 75- 

 125 mm long; they therefore come within the range of the sardine group, as used by Bigelow and Welsh (26:99). 



