6 



out, and affords evidence of the conspicuous migrations in a 

 definite direction of the mature. It is becoming evident that 

 plaice are divided into a southern race and a northern race, each 

 resolved into schools, and that dabs, so far as we know, present 

 only the characters of a southern rdce. This has been made 

 the basis of an attempt to indicate the probable origin of the 

 migrations in the early post-glacial period. 



The large number of herring measured last year, together 

 with the smaller numbers examined in previous years, have 

 enabled us to state that there is a difference between the trawl 

 caught herring of the Dogger Bank region and the summer 

 drift net herring of the east coast. The age composition of the 

 samples throws Uttle Ught on the subject, and it is evident that 

 a determination of race will depend mainly on a consideration 

 of the measurements. 



Further recaptures of the crabs marked by the late Mr. J. 

 Douglas, Beadnell, towards the end of 1912 have been reported. 

 The results illustrate the migration of mature females north- 

 wards, and indicate clearly that the migration is caused by the 

 ripening of the ovaries. 



An attempt has been made by means of statistics furnished 

 by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to state the drift of 

 lobster larvae in the Northumberland district. The examination 

 of the figures leads to the conclusion that the drift is only some 

 ten miles south of the protected region, and that there is probably 

 a northward migration at some period of the life of the lobster. 

 The figures further show that the protecton of the berried lobster 

 is far more important for the encouragement of the lobster 

 fishery than imposing a size limit. 



