The sample from the Firth of Forth, which was composed 

 chiefly of herrings with three winter rings, is of interest in that 

 the growth of fish with four winter rings differs from that of fish 

 a year younger. Generally speaking, the growth of the herrings 

 with four winter rings was lower every year than that of fish with 

 three winter rings, but the difference is most marked in the third 

 and fourth year growths. The data given below are taken as 

 supporting the hypothesis that herrings previous to reaching 

 maturity shoal according to size. 



Winter Year , 



Rings. Growth. 



3 11 



4 1 3 



Numbers at Centimetres 



Numbers at Centimetres. 



The samples from the north-west of Ireland have a growth 

 (Table III.) very like that found in the samples of last year from 

 north- west of the Shetlands and the north coast of Scotland. 

 The sample of 17th February differs from the other two samples 

 in that growth has been a little more rapid. This may be due 

 to the shoals living under slightly different conditions before 

 migrating to the spawning grounds off the Donegal coast. 



